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LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

CALIFORNIA 

SAN  DIEeO 


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JAMES     BOS WELL 


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WORKS  ON  BOSWELL  BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR. 

BOSWELL  AND   CROKER'S   BOSWELL. 
BOSWELL'S    LIFE   OF    JOHNSON, 

•WITH    THE 

"TOUR   TO   THE   HEBRIDES." 

A  Reprint  of  the  First  Edition,  with  Notes. 

The  Same.     Second  Edition. 
With  a  Bibliography  by  H.  Tedder,  Esq. 

EDITING  A   LA   MODE: 

An  Examination  of  Dr.  G.  Bikkbeck  Hill's  Edition  of 
Boswell's  Life  of  Johnson. 

A   RE-EXAMINATION  of  the  Same. 

POSTSCRIPT. 


JAMES   BOSWELL. 
From  the  painting  by  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds. 


LIFE   OF 

JAMES    BOS  WELL 

(OF  AUCHINLECK) 

WITH   AN   ACCOUNT   OF 

HIS   SAYINGS,   DOINGS,   AND    WRITINGS 


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BY 


PERCY  FITZGERALD,  M.A.,  F.S.A. 

author  of 
"the  life  of  garrick,"  "fatal  zero,"  etc. 


WITH    FOUR    PORTRAITS 


IN  TWO    VOLUMES.— You  I. 


NEW  YORK 
D.   APPLETON   &   COMPANY 

1891 


PREFACE. 

When  we  consider  the  increasing  interest  now  taken  in 
the  genial  Laird  of  Auchiuleck  and  his  works,  it  seems 
surprising  that  no  full  official  account  has  yet  been  fur- 
nished of  his  life  and  adventures.  Much  as  we  know 
of  him  and  his  erratic  career,  there  is  no  reader  of 
his  books  but  would  long  to  know  more.  Many  years 
ago,  indeed,  the  editor  of  the  "  Temple  Letters  "  prefixed 
a  short  account  to  his  collection ;  and  later,  Dr.  Rogers, 
when  editing  his  "  Boswelliana,"  added  a  somewhat 
fuller  sketch,  which  contained  many  new  and  curious 
particulars.  Later,  again,  Mr.  Leslie,  Stephen  prepared 
for  the  "  Dictionary  of  National  Biography  "  a  very  full 
and  excellent  epitome  of  all  the  incidents  in  Boswell's 
career,  supplemented,  as  might  be  expected,  by  much 
sound,  shrewd  criticism.  We  have,  also,  the  well-known 
essays  of  Lord  Macaulay,  and  of  Mr.  Carlyle,  with  a 
short  notice  in  Mr.  Leslie  Stephen's  "Johnson."  There 
are,  also,  Mr.  Elwin's  interesting  article  on  Boswell  in 
the  Quarterhj  Review;  a  few  papers  by  friends  of 
Boswell,  shortly  after  his  death,  in  the  Gentleman's 
Magazine;  and  the  characteristic  account  of  himself, 
written  by  Boswell  in  1791  for  the  European  Maga- 
zine.  This  was  not  much  ;  and  we  should  naturally 
wish  to  know  a  little  more  of  so  interesting  a  person, 


VI  PREFACE. 

who,  during  a  century,  has  contributed  so  largely  to 
the  entertainment  and  exhilaration  of  generations  of 
readers. 

During  many  years  I  have  been  collecting  materials 
for  these  volumes,  and  venture  to  hope  that  the 
reader  will  be  both  surprised  and  gratified  by  the 
amount  of  new  and  interestins^  details  that  are  here 
presented  to  him.  I  have  followed  Boswell's  somewhat 
eccentric  course  almost  year  by  year,  without  attempting 
to  gloss  over  his  failings,  adopting  his  own  too  candid 
admission  that  he  "lived  laxly  in  the  world."  The 
question  of  his  rather  perplexing  character — an  interest- 
ing and  almost  fascinating  subject — will  be  here  found 
discussed  at  length ;  and,  in  the  chapter  entitled  "  Bos- 
well  self-revealed,"  I  have  opened  up  a  rather  piquant 
subject  of  inquiry  for  Boswellians.  Having  been 
myself  an  editor  of  the  "Life  of  Johnson,"  I  have  felt 
emboldened  to  discuss  at  length  the  true  principles  of 
editing  "Boswell,"  from  which  it  seems  that  modern 
editors,  including  perhaps  myself,  have  wandered  astray. 
I  have  also  devoted  a  good  deal  of  consideration  to 
Boswell's  other  writings,  which,  in  their  way,  are  in- 
teresting. 

On  May  16,  1791 — a  Monday  morning — the  "Life 
of  Johnson  "  was  issued  to  an  expectant  public.  By  a 
happy  coincidence  I  find  myself,  on  the  16th  of  May, 
1891 — ^just  one  hundred  years  later, — writing  these 
words  of  introduction  to  a  life  of  the  author  of  this 
immortal  book. 

I  have  to  thank  Mr.  Murray  for  kindly  allowing  me 
to  use  one  of  the  illustrations  to  his  edition  of  the 
"  Life." 

Athenj!:um  Club, 

May  16,  1891. 


ABSTRACT   OF   CONTENTS   OF   VOL.    I. 


Good  pedigree  of  the  Boswells,  1 ;  account  of  Thomas- 
Boswell  of  Balmiito,  2  ;  of  David  Boswell,  ib.  ;  of  Veronica, 
Countess  of  Kincardine,  3 ;  of  the  Dutch  Sommelsdycks,. 
4 ;  Lord  Auchinleck  described,  ih. ;  letters  to  his  patron, 
the  Duke  of  IS'ewcastle,  6 ;  Sir  Walter  Scott's  remini- 
scences of  the  judge,  10 ;  anecdotes  and  sayings,  11  n. ; 
Auchinleck  described,  13. 
1740.  James  Boswell  born,  14 ;  his  early  schooling  under  Mr. 
Dann,  ib.;  sent  to  Edinburgh,  15;  his  fellow-student. 
Temple,  IG  ;  curious  discovery  of  the  Temple  letters,  17;. 
fellow-student  of  "Harry"  Dundas,  18;  friendship  vnth 
r.  Gentleman,  19  ;  always  partial  to  Irishmen,  ib. ;  assumes 
the  authorship  of  Lady  Houston's  play,  "  The  Coquettes," 
20 ;  enters  at  Glasgow  University,  21 ;  embraces  the 
Catholic  Faith,  and  wishes  to  become  a  priest,  22 ;  said  to 
have  eloped  with  an  actress,  ib. ;  Dr.  Jortin  sent  to  re-con- 
vert him,  ib. 

1760.  Goes  to  town,  24;  found  in  "very  bad  company"  by  Lord 

Egliuton,  25;  publishes  "The  Cub  at  Newmarket,"  ib.; 
dedicates  it  to  the  Duke  of  York,  27 ;  Derrick,  M.  C,  29  ; 
enters  at  the  Middle  Temple,  30,  n. ;  retui-ns  to  Edinburgh^ 
32;  convivial  pleasui'es,  ib.;  "Ned  Colquet,  the  Priest," 
83 ;  Boswell's  complacent  descriptions  of  himself,  ib. ;  his 
respectable  friends,  34;  founds  the  "Soaping  Club,"  ib. 

1761.  Sheridan  gives  lectures  on  English  pronunciation,  35 ;  Bos- 

well elected  into  the  "  Select  Society,"  36 ;  his  "  Critical 
Strictures  on  Elvira,"  37;  contributions  to  the  Scots 
Magazine,   38,   n. ;    "  Letters  between    the  Hon.   Andrew 

Ei-skine  and  James  Boswell,  Esq.,"  ib. ;  "Lady  B and 

the  Turkey-cock,"  39 ;    "  Ode  to  Tragedy,"  inscribed  to^ 


Vlll  ABSTRACT  OF   CONTENTS. 

himself  "by  himself,"  40;  "Elegy  on  the  Death  of  an 
Amiable  Young  Lady,"  42 ;  Captain  Erskine  described, 
ih.,  n. ;  Boswell  eager  to  enter  the  Guards,  43. 

1762.  Arrives  in  town  to  forward  the  business,  44 ;  makes  literary 

acquaintances,  45 ;  agrees  to  go  to  Utrecht  to  study,  46 ; 
evil  companions — Wilkes,  George  Dempster,  etc.,  48. 

1763.  Introduction  to  Johnson,  49  ;  "  Tom  Davies  "  and  his  "  pretty 

wife "  described,  50,  n. ;  the  meeting  at  Tom  Davies' 
described,  51 ;  Murphy's  strange  claim  to  have  been 
present,  52,  n. ;  growth  of  the  Johnsonian  intimacy,  54  ; 
journey  to  Harwich,  58 ;  Boswell  embarks  for  Holland, 
60 ;  pursues  his  studies  at  Utrecht  for  a  short  time,  61 ; 
anecdotes,  sayings,  etc.,  63  ;  quits  Utrecht  without  his 
father's  leave,  to  travel  in  Germany,  64 ;  obtains  Lord 
Auchinleck's  consent  to  his  making  a  tour,  (J7 ;  hysterical 
letter  to  Johnson  from  Wittemberg,  69  ;  his  lively  speeches 
at  various  courts,  ih. ;  visits  Voltaire  at  Ferney,  70. 

1765.  Correspondence    with    Wilkes,     72 ;     poetical     address    to 

Wilkes,  82 ;    acquaintance    with    Lord    Mountstuart,  83 
asked   by  him  to  become  his  travelling  companion,  ib. 
reports  of  Mr.  Boswell's  travels  contributed  to  papei's,  85 
Lord  Marischal  recommends  him  to  Rousseau,  88;  Boswell 
furnished  by  Rousseau  with  letters  to  Corsica,  89  ;  various 
incidents  of  the  tour,  90  ;  Paoli's  quaint  descrijDtion  of  the 
travellers,  ih. ;  Boswell's  letters  to  Wilkes  and  Rousseau 
on  his  return,  95 ;  publishes  a  caricature  of  Rousseau,  98 ; 
escorts  Rousseau's  mistress  to  London,  ih. ;  death  of  Mrs. 

1766.  Boswell,  ih.  Familiar  letters  to  Mr.  Pitt,  101 ;  cannot 
"  empty  his  head  of  Corsica,"  103 ;  "  British  Essays  in 
Favour  of  the  Brave  Corsicans,"  ih.  ;  complaints  of  Lord 
Auchinleck,  104  ;  eager  to  publish  his  travels,  105. 

1767.  Called  to  the  Scottish  Bar,  107;  entered  at  the  Temple  in 

1775,  ih. ;  specimens  of  bis  legal  "jests,"  108;  the  Douglas 
cause,  109 ;  "  Essence  of  the  Douglas  Cause,"  110 ; 
"  Dorando,"  proved,  to  be  his  work.  111,  n. ;  extracts 
from  this  allegory,  112  ;  held  to  be  a  contempt 
of  court,  113;  extracts  from  Lord  Auchinleck's  jiidg- 
ment  in  the  Douglas  cause,  114,  n. ;  Boswell  "takes  a 
tout  on  a  neio  horn"  116  ;  his  extravagant  behaviour,  ih. ; 
unchivalrous  controversy  with  the  Hon.  Miss  Primrose, 
117;  "Tour  in  Corsica"  published,  121  ;  Gray  and  Wal- 
pole's    opinion    of    the  book,    122;    offends   Johnson    by 


ABSTRACT   OF  CONTENTS.  IX 

publishing  his  letter,  ib. ;  much  recherclie  in  town,  124  ; 
his  general   weakness  for  le  beau  sexe,  125  ;  strange  views 
of    marriage,    12G ;    his   vai'ious    "charmers:" — the    gar- 
dener's daughter ;   Miss  Bosville ;  Miss   Blair,   127 ;   pro- 
gress  of   his    suit,  ih.]    instruction    to    Temple — "Praise 
me   for   my  good    qualities,"   129 ;   alternations  of   hope, 
love,  and  discouragement,  130  ;  reappearance  of  "  Zelide," 
133  ;  "  La  Belle  Irlandaise,"  13G  ;  visit  to  Ireland,  139. 
1769.  Engages  himself  to  Miss  Peggie  Montgomerie,  140  ;  exhibits 
himself  at  the  Stratford  Jubilee,  141 ;  his  lively  descrip- 
tion  of  the   pageant,   143  ;   Boswell's   marriage  to   Miss 
Peggie  Montgomerie,   146 ;  his  father's  second  maiTiage, 
ih. ;    Mrs.  James   Boswell    described,   147 ;    her   "  smart " 
sayings,    148 ;    his  residence  in   James'   Court,   149 ;    his 
stepmother  "  very  implacable,"  150 ;  disagreements  with 
his   father,    151 ;    intimacy   with   Eoss,    the   actor,    152 ; 
account  of  Ross,  ih.,  n. ;  furnishes  him  with  a  prologue, 
153  ;  essays  on  "  The  Profession  of  a  Player,"  155. 
1770.  Birth  of  his  first  child,  158;  some  of  Boswell's  jests  at  the 
Bar,  159;  pleads  before  the  General  Assembly,  160;  "A 
Sketch  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Church  of  Scotland," 
161 ;  specimen  of  Boswell's  speech,  ih. ;  General  Paoli,  163  ; 
Mr.  Vaughan's  "  snub  "  to  Boswell,  ih. ;  "  An  Authentick 
Account    of   General  Paoli's   Tour  to   Scotland,  Autumn, 
1771,"  165;  "  teases  "  Johnson  by  his  silence,  168;  goes 
without  dinner  to  please  him,  169. 
1773.  Admitted  into  the  Literary  Club,  170;  preparing  for  "  the 
tour,"   171  ;    his  artful  devices  for  tempting  Johnson  to 
Scotland,   172 ;    Johnson's   arrival    in    Edinburgh,    175 ; 
Boyd's  White  Horse  Inn,  ih.,  n.  ;  Boswell's  entertainments 
for   his    great   friend,    176;    Boswell's    unflagging    good 
humour  during  "the  tour,"  177;  Johnson's  compliments 
to  him,  ih. ;  awkward  mention  of  Mr.  Murray,  ih.,  n.;  Gold- 
smith's rough  warning,  ib. ;  visit  to  Lord  Monboddo,  178  ; 
account  of  that  judge,  179  ;  at  Lord  Errol's,  180  ;  Boswell's 
description     of     his    debauch    at    Corrichatachin,     182 ; 
picturesque   storm-scene,  184,  n. ;    at  Lockbuy,  186 ;   at 
Inverary   Castle,    187;    at   Auchinleck,   190;    Johnson's 
dispute  with  Lord  Auchinleck,  191  ;  three  records  of  the 
pilgrimage,  192;  Johnson's  account  of  the  tour  somewhat 
ponderous,  193 ;  Boswell's  design  of  adding  a  supplement, 
ih.,  n. 


X  ABSTRACT  OF   CONTENTS. 

1774.  Wishes  to  visit  London  "to  celebrate  Easter  in  Sfc.  Paul's," 

194 ;  his  indiscretion  in  repeating  a  speech  of  Johnson's  to 
Hume,  ih. 

1775.  His  lively  report  of  his  "  jaunt  "  to  town,  196  ;  enters  at  the 

Inner  Temple,  198;  elated  letter  from  Wilton  House,  199  ; 
lodges  with  General  Paoli,  200  ;  removal  of  the  general's 
remains  to  Corsica,  in  1888,  ih.,  n. ;  Boswell's  son,  Alexandei', 
born,  201 ;  Boswell  breaks  his  vow  of  temperance,  202 ; 
list  of  his  "  causes,"  ih.,  n. ;  he  and  his  father  divaricate, 
203 ;  Lord  Auchinleck  pays  his  debts,  204 ;  Boswell  the 
real  author  of  two  modern  first-rate  jests,  ih.,  n. 

1776.  Visits  Lichfield  with  Johnson,  205  ;    a  visit  to  Dr.  Taylor, 

206  ;  recalled   to   London  by  the  death  of  Thrale's  son, 

207  ;  Boswell  kneels  before  Ireland's  forged  papers,  208  ; 
the  dinner  at  Dilly's  one  of  his  most  effective  descrip- 
tions, 209;  his  little  artifices,  210,  n. ;  subject  through 
life  to  the  "black  fumes  "  of  depression,  211;  Johnson's 
suggested  remedies,  212 ;  Boswell's  essays  on  the  subject, 
in  the  London  Magazine,  "  The  Hypochondriack,"  ih. ; 
specimens,  214 ;  his  taste  for  attending  executions,  219  ; 
account  of  Hackman's,  ih.  ;  his  connection  with  Mrs. 
Rudd,  221  ;  his  verses  to  her,  222,  n. ;  Sir  J.  Reynolds 
letter  on  the  execution  of  Thrale's  servant,  223 ;  Boswell 
at  Lord  Covington's  death-bed,  224;  Mr.  Croker's  theory 
of  Boswell's  insanity,  225 ;  Sir  J.  Prior  on  Boswell's 
character,  ih.;  "gust"  for  recording  his  own  absurdities, 
226;  letter  to  the  Bishop  of  Derry,  227;  eccentricities  of 
the  bishop,  229 ;  opposition  to  his  father's  plan  of  reset- 
tling the  estate,  231 ;  extract  from  the  settlement,  232,  n. 

1776.  Boswell's  son,  David,  born,  234. 

1777.  Visit  to  Dr.  Taylor:  "  'Tis  a  pity  lie  has  not  a  better  bottom,'' 

236,  n. 

1778.  Boswell  on  a  visit  at  Thrale's,  237 ;  Miss  Burney's  sketch  of 

him,  238 ;  "  bringing  in  gabble,"  241  ;  directed  to  get  his 
head  "  fumigated,"  ih.  ;  analogous  story  of  F.  Reynolds, 
ih.,  n.  ;  Boswell  grossly  attacked  by  Johnson,  242  ;  "  The 
night-cap  story  "  and  "  Garagantua's  mouth,"  ih. ;  other 
absurdities,  245 ;  Boswell's  habit  of  repeating  unkind 
speeches — as  in  the  instance  of  Foote  and  Lord  Monboddo, 
247 ;  Squire  Bosville,  249  ;  brother  David  described,  251  ; 
brother  John,  255 ;  Dr.  Boswell,  ih.  ;  Allan  Ramsay's 
verses  to  him,  ib. ;  Robert  Boswell,  "  the  Sandemanian," 


AB  STB  ACT  OF   CONTENTS.  XI 

256 ;  duel  of  Mr.  Cunningham,  Boswell's  relation,  and 
Mr.  Riddel,  257  ;  "  Decision  of  the  Court  of  Session  upon 
the  Question  of  Literary  Property,  etc.,"  260 ;  renewal 
of  intimacy  with  Wilkes,  letters,  etc.,  261 ;  "  Flirtation  " 
with  Mrs.  Stuart,  264;  excursion  with  Colonel  Stuart, 
265  ;  sale  of  Johnson's  house,  266,  n. ;  visit  to  Lichfield, 
267;  dinner  at  the  Adelphi,  270;  Boswell  intoxicated  at 
evening  parties,  271;  proposes  to  visit  London  "on 
borrowed  money,"  273. 
1782.  Death  of  Lord  Auchinleck,  274;  funeral  service  by  Mr- 
Dun,  275  ;  the  new  "  Laird  of  Auchinleck,"  276  ;  Johnson 
attacked  by  paralysis,  278;  Boswell's  advances  to  Burke, 
279  ;  wishes  to  be  Judge  Advocate,  281 ;  account  of  his 
new  patron,  Sir  J.  Lowther,  afterwards  Lord  Lonsdale, 
ih.  ;  Boswell  obtains  the  Recordship  of  Carlisle  through 
his  interest,  283  ;  his  dissatisfaction  with  Dundas,  ib. ; 
letter  to  Lord  Lisburne,  285  ;  first  "  Letter  to  the  People 
of  Scotland,"  286;  specimens  of  the  extravagance  of  this 
pamphlet,  287. 


LIFE  OF  JAMES    BOSWELL. 

CHAPTER   I. 

THE    BOSWELLS — LORD    AUCHIXLECK. 

Dean  Boyd,  in  his  reminiscences,  spccaks  with  natural 
pride  of  the  high  lineage  and  "good  blood"  of  Scottish 
families,  adding  that  he  had  almost  invariably  found  that 
persons  of  other  nations  were  eager  to  claim  connection 
with  a  Caledonian  stock.  The  Boswells  can  boast  of 
a,  very  distinguished  pedigree  in  the  country  of  good 
pedigrees  ;  and  their  most  famous  son,  James,  in  his  own 
characteristic  style,  has  enumerated  the  glories  of  his  race. 
"  Thomas  Boswell,"  he  tells  us,  "  was  the  first  Laird 
of  Auchinleck  (pronounced  Affleck),  Ayrshire,  after  the 
estate  had  fallen  to  the  then  Crown  by  the  forfeiture 
of  the  very  ancient  family  of  that  ilk.  I  am  told  the 
Afflecks  of  England  are  the  heirs  of  the  forfeited  family. 
I  am  proud  of  the  connection ;  but  should  be  unwilling 
'to  resign  to  them  the  estate  of  which  they  have  now 
no  need.  Thomas  Boswell  was  a  descendant  of  the 
family  of  Balmuto,  in  Fife,  whose  estate  was  pur- 
chased in  this  century  by  a  younger  son  of  my  family. 
Thomas  Boswell  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  the 
Campbells,  of  Loudon,  and  a  granddaughter  of  the 
forfeited   Affleck.      He   was   killed   with   his   king   on 


VOL.  I. 


2  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

the  fatal  field  of  Flodden  in  1513,  figliting  against  the 
English,  though  he  was  himself  of  old  Yorkshire  extrac- 
tion, being  descended  of  the  respectable  family  of  Bos- 
ville  or  Boswell — for  both  they  and  we  have  spelt  it  both 
ways  at  different  times — of  Gunthwait,  in  the  West 
Eiding.  After  a  separation  of  ages,  I  join  our  branch 
in  cordial  friendship  with  the  stock,  our  Chief,  the  late 
Godfrey  Bosville,  Esq.,  as  honest  a  man,  as  perfect  an 
example  of  the  '  noblest  work  of  God,'  as  ever  lived." 

The  family  could  boast  a  long  line  of  knights  and 
warriors,  united  by  marriage  with  the  Wemyses,  Orkneys, 
Campbells,  Carnwaths,  and  other  noble  houses.  At  the 
beginning  of  last  century  the  legal  "strain"  first  began 
to  show  itself,  when  the  family  adopted  the  Bar  as  a 
profession.  David's  great-grandson,  James,  in  the  odd 
pamphlet  which  he  addressed  to  "the  people  of  Scot- 
land," thus  describes  David  : — 

"  My  much-respected  great-grandfather,  that '  worthy 
gentleman,'  David  Boswell,  of  Auchinleck,  a  true  heart 
of  oak,  with  a  vigorous  mind  and  a  robust  body,  secured 
one  male  successor.  His  uncle,  though  he  had  four 
daughters,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  married  to  Lord 
Cathcart  (who  would  have  been  glad  to  have  had  an 
old  roch),  was  good  enough  to  give  him  the  estate. 
The  Laird  used  to  say  that  '  he  never  saw  a  man  in  his 
life,  but  he  did  not  think  himself  his  master.'  /,  pejor 
avis,  cannot  say  so  much ;  but  this  I  will  say,  that  '  I 
call  no  man  master'  without  reason.  When  I  have 
fixed  my  opinion  upon  an  important  question,  I  main- 
tain it  as  a  point  of  conscience,  as  a  point  of  honour  ; 
and  the  Sovereign  himself  would  find  me  tenacem  2^'^o- 
'positi,  as  I  humbly  but  firmly  was  upon  the  subject 
of  the  American  War.      I  am  a  Tory,  but  not  a  slave." 

David  Boswell  had  two  sons,  James  and  Eobert ;  the 


THE  BOS  WELLS — LOBD   AUCIIINLECK.  3 

latter,  a  successful  "  Writer  to  the  Signet,"  brought  up 
bis  son  Claude  to  the  Bar,  who  became  a  judge,  with 
the  title  of  Lord  Balmuto.  James,  David's  other  son, 
also  adopted  the  Bar  as  a  profession,  in  which  he  dis- 
tinguished himself  as  an  advocate,  marrying  Lady 
Elizabeth  Bruce,  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Kincardine. 
He  had  two  sons,  Alexander  and  John,  and  a  daughter, 
Veronica.  John  adopted  the  medical  profession ;  but 
the  eldest,  Alexander,  followed  the  Bar,  and  became  a 
judge  under  the  title  of  Lord  Auchinleck.  Veronica 
married  Mr.  Montgomerie,  of  Lainshaw ;  her  daughter 
was  the  wife  of  James  Boswell,  Dr.  Johnson's  friend 
and  biographer.  The  Bos  wells,  therefore,  might  latterly 
be  considered  a  "  high  "  legal  family,  and  it  was  natural 
that  Lord  Auchinleck  should  look  forward  to  his  son's 
distinguishing  himself  in  the  same  line.  His  disappoint- 
ment and  irritation  at  the  failure  of  his  hopes  was 
pardonable  enough,  and  led  to  the  disputes,  and  strained 
relations,  which  continued  between  him  and  his  erratic 
son  during  their  lives.  His  disgust  and  grotesque  in- 
dignation at  his  son's  attachment  to  Johnson  was,  there- 
fore, warranted  by  the  spectacle  of  good  opportunities 
wasted,  and  the  fair  prospects  of  a  prosperous  establish- 
ment in  life  utterly  thrown  away. 

Lord  Auchinleck's  father,  James  Bosw^ell,  was  de- 
scribed as  a  heavy  plodding  man,  and  a  good  lawyer  of 
plain  sense  without  imagination.  He  was  so  slow  and 
dull  that  he  used  to  be  put  up  to  speak  when  business 
had  to  be  protracted.  "  Lord  Kames,  in  conversation 
with  James  Boswell,  gave  him  the  following  anecdote  : 
'Your  grandfather,  Mr.  James  Boswell,  was  one  of  the 
best  lawyers  of  his  time.  I  had  no  other  acquaintance 
with  him  than  people  come  to  have  from  daily  seeing 
each  others'  faces  and  walking  in  the  same  room.'" 


4  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

In  the  "  Tour "  we  find  a  cliaracteristic  passage  re- 
lating to  tliis  generation.  "  The  saint's  name  of  Veronica 
was  introduced  into  our  family  through  my  great-grand- 
mother, Veronica,  Countess  of  Kincardine,  a  Dutch  lady 
of  the  noble  house  of  Sommelsdyck,  of  which  there  is 
«a  full  account  in  Bayle's  '  Dictionary.'  The  family  had 
once  a  j)rincely  right  in  Surinam.  The  governor  of  the 
settlement  was  appointed  by  the  states-general,  the 
towns  of  Amsterdam  and  Sommelsdyck.  The  states- 
general  have  acquired  Sommelsdyck's  right,  but  the 
family  has  still  great  dignity  and  opulence,  and  by  inter- 
marriages is  connected  with  many  other  noble  families. 
The  present  Sommelsdyck  has  an  important  charge  in 
the  republic,  and  is  as  worthy  a  man  as  lives.  My 
great-grandfather,  the  husband  of  Countess  Veronica, 
was  Alexander,  Earl  of  Kincardine,  that  eminent  Royalist, 
whose  character  is  given  by  Burnet  in  his  '  History  of 
his  own  Times.'  From  him  the  blood  of  Bruce  flows  in 
my  veins.  Of  such  ancestry  who  would  not  be  proud  ? 
And  as  '  Nihil  est,  nisi  hoc  sciat  alter '  is  peculiarly  true 
of  genealogy,  who  would  not  be  glad  to  seize  a  fair 
opportunity  to  let  it  be  known  ?  "  Mr.  Bos  well  was 
fond,  indeed,  of  calling  himself  "  Baron  of  Auchinleck," 
and  late  in  life  seemed  to  have  cherished  a  dream  of 
actually  obtaining  some  honour  of  the  kind. 

The  fact  of  the  mother  being  a  Dutch  lady  naturally 
accounts  for  the  Dutch  education  given  to  her  son  and 
grandson.  The  future  Lord  Auchinleck  was  accordingly 
despatched  to  Utrecht,  and  found  a  number  of  his  rela- 
tives established  there.  Thence  he  went  to  Paris,  where 
he  figured  as  a  beau.  Many  years  later,  when  his  son 
James  was  on  a  visit  to  Lord  Kames,  Mr.  Drummond, 
of  Blair,  used  to  describe  the  father's  red  heels  and 
red  stockings,  and  the  lad  was  so  diverted  "  that  he 


THE  BO  SWELLS — LOUD   AUCHINLECK.  5 

could  hardly  sit  on  his  chair  for  laughing."  He  was 
probably  thinking  of  the  rather  grim  contrast  with  such 
finery  that  his  father  then  presented.  At  the  Bar  he 
Avas  liked  for  his  courtesy  and  fairness,  and  into  his 
pleadings  he  introduced  what  he  and  his  friends  held  to 
be  "a  vein  of  wit  and  irony ;"  but  which  to  our  genera- 
tion seems  coarseness  and  arrogance.  He  proved  to  be 
a  painstaking  and  sagacious  judge,  and  "  even  those 
who  found  fault  with  his  vulgarisms  admitted  his 
industry."  On  circuit  he  was  hospitable  and  courteous, 
and  his  habit  was  to  make  acquaintance  with  every  one 
of  any  consideration  in  the  district  through  which  he 
passed.  It  was  his  rule  to  spend  every  shilling  of  his 
allowance,  telling  his  guests  that  the  circuit  table  was 
the  king's,  not  his.  "  Gentlemen,"  he  would  say,  "  claret 
is  my  liquor ;  if  any  one  chooses  port  or  punch,  let  him 
call  for  it."  In  his  shrewd  way,  he  said  he  considered 
that  the  practice  of  asking  gentlemen  to  dinner  in  turn 
w^as  "  like  entertaining  beggars  at  a  burial,  who  get 
their  alms  by  rotation."  He  took  no  pains  to  improve 
his  rude  Scotch  dialect,  which  he  rather  fostered.  He 
was  a  sturdy  loyalist  and  Presbyterian,  and  highly 
popular  among  his  tenants.  He  was  very  proud  of  his 
advancement  as  sheriff,  for  he  happened  to  be  the  first 
that  was  appointed  on  the  abolition  of  hereditary  juris- 
dictions. Often  in  his  judgments  he  would  make  allu- 
sion to  this  important  fact,  "  /,  gentlemen,  am  the  first 
kings  sheriff."  These,  however,  were  pardonable  eccen- 
tricities. 

His  first  promotion  was  in  1748,  when  he  was  made 
Sheriff  Deputy  of  Wigton.  He  was  fortunate  in  the 
patronage  of  the  well-known  Duke  of  Newcastle,  to 
whom  he  owed  his  advancement  to  the  Bench  in  1754. 
In  Lord  Hailes'  journal  we  find,  "  1754,  Feb.  14.    My 


6  -  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

friend  Mr.  Alex.  Boswell  cadmitted  a  Lord  of  Session. 
He  told  me  it  was  by  the  interest  of  the  Duke  of 
Newcastle.     For  once  at  least  his  Grace  judged  right." 

In  little  more  than  a  year,  on  the  death  of  Drumore, 
a  judge  of  the  Higher  Court  of  Justiciary,  we  find  him 
applying  to  his  patron  for  advancement. 

Lord  Auchinleck  to  the  Duke  of  Newcastle. 

"My  Lord, — Under  the  highest  sense  of  your  Grace's 
favor,  to  which  I  have  the  honour  to  say  I  owe  my 
being  one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Session,  I  have 
ventured  not  without  difficulty  to  make  this  address. 
By  the  death  of  Lord  Drumore  there  is  now  a  vacancy 
in  the  Court  of  Justiciary,  which  falls  to  be  supplied  by 
one  of  our  Bench.  May  I  presume  once  more  to  have 
recourse  to  your  Grace's  disinterested  patronage  ?  It  is 
not  in  my  power  to  make  returns  further  than  by  wishes 
that  your  influence  may  daily  become  more  diff"used, 
and  contributing  my  poor  mite  thereto  as  often  as  there 
is  opportunity,  which  indeed  is  no  more  but  wishing 
well  to  the  publick,  and  acting  on  that  plan  which  I 
hope  shall  ever  be  my  endeavour.  I  have  the  honour 
to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect,  my  Lord  Duke,  your 
Grace's  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant,  Alex. 
Boswell. 

"Edinburgh,  June  19,  1755."* 

Other  candidates  applied  almost  by  the  same  post, 
of  whom  Mr.  Dundas  wrote,  that  "  they  were  very  good 
men,  both,  and  attached  to  your  Grace."  But  Lord 
Auchinleck  did  not  succeed.  In  1755  he  was  more 
fortunate,  and  was  appointed  a  Lord  of  Justiciary.     Six 

*  Brit.  Mus.,  Newcastle  papers,  Ad.  MS.,  32,856. 


THE  BO  SWELLS — LORD   AUCHINLECK.  7 

years  later  this  attacliment  to  his  Grace  fell  under 
suspicion,  and  the  judge  vindicated  himself  in  what  his 
son  would  have  called  "  a  characteristical  letter "  of 
OTcat  leno;tli. 

Lord  Aucldnleck  to  the  Duke  of  Newcastle. 

"  Edinburgh,  March  20,  1760. 

"My  dear  Lord, — I  had  yesterday  the  honour  to 
receive  your  Lordship's  kind  and  obliging  letter,  the 
first  part  of  which,  that  I  might  not  mix  dissimilar 
things,  I  have  answered  by  a  letter  which  goes  under 
this  same  cover.  What  I  am  now  to  write  upon 
concerns  the  last  part  of  your  letter.  Your  Lordship 
signifies  to  me  that  I  am  somehow  censured  about  the 
Militia  scheme,  and  desires  to  know  what  the  E.  of 
Holdernesse  wrote  to  me  upon  that  subject.  That  you 
may  have  an  opportunity  to  vindicate  your  friend  from 
dark  attacks,  I  could  have  wished  your  Lordship  had 
had  time  to  have  explained  the  matter  further,  as,  at 
present,  I  cannot  divine  for  what  I  am  censured. 

"  That  being  the  case,  in  order  to  enable  you  to  do 
me  justice,  I  am  necessarily  drawn  in  to  write  at  greater 
length  than  had  I  known  the  particulars  for  which  I  am 
blamed.  I  am  no  politician,  but  know  so  much  of 
government  and  of  history,  ancient  and  modern,  as  to 
think  Britain  the  happiest  state  that  exists  or  has  been, 
— owing  to  a  happy  concurrence  of  circumstances,  its 
situation,  its  Constitution,  and  the  truly  patriotic  dis- 
position of  his  Majesty,  a  disposition  which  was  remark- 
iible  too  in  his  illustrious  father,  and  which  there  is 
reason  to  hope  will  continue  with  his  descendants. 

"I  must  at  the  same  time  say  that,  as  I  have  often 
iidmired  the  wisdom  of  Providence  in  providing  the 
industrious  and  laborious  Eepublick  of  Bees  who  treasure 


8  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

up  a  store  of  what  most  readily  attracts  invaders,  Avitli 
weapons  proper  for  their  defence,  which  every  individual 
knows  how  to  wield,  and  to  which  they  owe  their  pre- 
servation, it  still  occurred  to  me  as  a  very  strange  thing 
that  a  Eepublick  of  raised  men  should  not  employ  that 
judgment  and  invention  God  has  given  them  to  put 
themselves  in  condition  to  defend  their  liberties,  their 
priviledges,  all  that  is  valuable  to  them,  from  tlie  Attacks 
of  Enemies. 

"  This  abstract  and  philosophical  reflection  is  strongly 
enforced  from  the  fatal  consequence  of  the  neglect  of 
it,  recorded  to  us  by  the  historians  of  all  ages,  who  tell 
us  of  many  States,  abounding  in  influence,  that  fell  a 
prey  to  a  handful  of  invaders,  exjoerienced  in  the  art  of 
war.  And  indeed  to  evince  it,  give  me  leave  to  call 
to  your  Lordship's  remembrance  the  dismal  apprehension 
you  and  I  had  that  night  of  the  Battle  of  Falkirk,  when 
we  saw  a  handful  of  Hiohlanders,  as  it  were,  shakeino- 
the  throne,  and  the  many  hundred  thousands  of  well- 
afiected  subjects  who  abhorred  them,  from  disuse  of 
arms,  lying  by,  trembling  under  the  apprehension  that 
all  would  be  lost  by  the  cowardice  or  treachery  of  the 
few  regular  troops,  on  whom  all  depended.  I  will  say 
more,  these  were  not  vain  fears,  though  Providence 
happily  disappointed  them.  The  Duke  of  Cumberland, 
his  Eoyal  Highness's  presence  inspired  the  officers  and' 
soldiers  with  courage,  and  to  him,  under  God,  we  owe 
our  happy  deliverance.  My  dear  Lord,  I  have  great 
honour  for  the  gentlemen  of  the  army,  and  I  shall 
always  be  of  opinion  that  it  is  under  penalty  necessary 
to  have  a  very  considerable  standing  army  kept  up  at 
all  times.  But  I  must  be  forgiven  for  being  also  of 
opinion  that  it  is  also  proper  and  necessary  that  the 
people,  whose  all  is  at  stake,  should  be  in  a  condition  to> 


THE  BO  SWELLS — LORD   AUOHINLECK.  d 

act  as  a  corps  de  reserve,  iu  case  any  disaster  befalliug 
the  regular  troops,  that  so  all  may  not  be  over,  in  a 
manner,  at  once.  To  come  a  little  nearer  to  the  point 
still,  I  must  say  the  state  of  the  kingdom,  last  year^ 
reviv'd  the  above  thoughts  afresh  in  my  mind.  An 
invasion  was  threatened  and  intended  by  our  most 
inveterate  enemies.  Had  they  got  over,  your  Lordship 
knows  the  numbers  of  effective  troops  that  could  have 
been  brought  against  them.  These  troops  had  been 
ill  conducted.  I  mean  reflections  against  no  one — for 
I  don't  know  who  was  to  lead,  or  if  that  was  feared. 
But  let  us  suppose  they  had  behaved  as  the  troops  at 
Falkirk  did.  What  would  have  been  the  consequence  ? 
The  millions  of  people  in  Britain  could  have  done 
nothing  but  lament.  Again,  I  suppose  there  had  been 
but  a  small  landing  in  Scotland.  Your  Lordship  knows 
what  a  handful  of  troops  there  were  to  resist,  and  these 
all  incamped,  as  was  reasonable,  near  this  place.  In 
the  situation  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  concur  in  an 
humble  address  to  his  Majesty  from  the  County  of 
Air,  where,  God  be  thanked  !  there  is  neither  disaffection 
nor  dissatisfaction,  praying  that  he  might  be  graciously 
pleased  to  order  us  to  be  put  in  a  posture  of  defence. 
And  such  was  the  zealous  spirit  of  the  people  that, 
without  being  anyhow  burdensome  to  the  State,  further 
than  the  furnishing  of  arms,  which  we  could  not  have 
been  supplied  with  any  other  way,  I  make  not  the  least 
doubt  we  should  have  had  1500  or  2000  men  trained 
in  a  very  short  time,  which  would  have  us  under  very 
little  dread  of  M.  de  Thurot.  This  address  I  had  the 
honour,  as  Prceses  to  the  meeting,  to  transmit  to  the 
Earl  of  Holdernesse,  with  a  letter  containing  more  fully 
our  views.  And  to  this  letter  his  Lordship  was  pleased 
to   honour    me   with  a   return."     A    sensible,    though 


1.0  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

pedantic  letter,  with  many  quaint  and  "  pawky  "  strokes, 
significant  of  the  judge's  nature. 

From  Sir  Walter  Scott,  Mr.  Croker  obtained  some 
characteristic  notes  relating;  to  the  old  laird.  "  Old 
Lord  Auchinleck,"  he  says,  "  was  an  able  lawyer,  a  good 
scholar,  after  the  manner  of  Scotland,  and  highly  valued 
his  own  advantao;es  as  a  man  of  o-ood  estate  and  ancient 
family ;  and,  moreover,  he  was  a  strict  Presbyterian  and 
AVhig  of  the  old  Scottish  cast.  This  did  not  prevent 
his  being  a  terribly  proud  aristocrat ;  and  great  was  the 
contempt  he  entertained  and  expressed  for  his  son 
James,  for  the  nature  of  his  friendships  and  the  character 
of  the  personages  of  whom  he  was  eiigoue  one  after 
another.  '  There's  nae  hope  for  Jamie,  mon,'  he  said  to 
a  friend.  '  Jamie  is  gaen  clean  gyte.  What  do  you 
think,  mon  ?  He's  done  wi'  Paoli — he's  off  wi'  the 
land-louping  scoundrel  of  a  Corsican ;  and  whose  tail 
do  you  think  he  has  pinned  himself  to  now,  mon  ? ' 
Here  the  old  judge  summoned  up  a  sneer  of  most 
sovereign  contempt.  '  A  dominie,  mon — an  auld  domi- 
nie ;  he  keeped  a  schule,  and  cau'd  it  an  acaadamy.' 
These  oddities  the  old  lord  carried  to  such  an  unusual 
length,  that  once,  when  a  countryman  came  in  to  state 
some  justice  business,  and,  being  required  to  make  his 
oath,  declined  to  do  so  before  his  lordship,  because  he  was 
not  a  covenanted  magistrate, — '  Is  that  a'  your  objection, 
mon?'  said  the  judge;  'come  your  ways  in  here,  and 
we'll  baith  of  us  tak'  the  solemn  league  and  covenant 
together.'  The  oath  was  accordingly  agreed  and  sworn 
to  by  both." 

"He  had,"  says  his  son,  "  originally  a  very  strong 
mind  and  cheerful  temper.  He  assured  me,  he  never 
had  felt  one  moment  of  what  is  called  low  spirits,  or 
uneasiness,  without  a  real  cause.     He  had  a  great  many 


THE  BOSWELLS—LORD   AUCHINLECK.  11 

good  stories,  which  he  told  uncommonly  well,  and  he 
was  remarkable  for  '  humour,  incolumi  gravitate,'  as 
Lord  Monboddo  used  to  characterize  it.  His  age,  his 
office,  and  his  character  had  long  given  him  an  acknow- 
ledged claim  to  great  attention,  in  whatever  company 
he  was ;  and  he  could  ill  brook  any  diminution  of  it. 
He  was  as  sanguine  a  Whig  and  Presbyterian,  as  Dr. 
Johnson  was  a  Tory  and  Church  of  England  man."  * 

*  His  son's  praise  as  to  his  being  remarkable  for  humour,  and 
able  to  tell  a  good  story,  is  hardly  warranted  by  the  specimens 
that  have  been  preserved ;  for  the  stories  are  of  the  dull  class 
which  old  judges  are  wont  to  relate  upoa  circuit,  the  whole  in- 
terest of  which  lies  in  the  narrator's  having  hnoivn  the  subject  of 
the  narrative,  or  having  taken  part  in  the  incident.  Here  are  some 
of  the  good  stories  so  cai'efully  registered  by  his  son  : 

"  Sir  William  Gordon  would  needs  make  a  library  because  ray 
Lord  Sunderland  made  one,  but  all  he  wanted  was  just  dear  books. 
He  came  in  one  day  to  Vanderaa's  shop,  in  Leyden,  and  asked  if 
he  had  got  any  dear   new   books.      Vanderaa   showed   him    the 

'  Thesaurus  Italia)  et  Sicilite  '  in volumes.     Sir  William  turned 

to  Dr.  Cooper  and  said,  '  Pray,  Doctor,  have  I  got  that  book  ?  ' 
'  No,  Sir  William,  nor  do  I  think  you  have  occasion  for  it.'  '  Mr. 
Cooper,  I  cannot  be  without  that  book.'  '  Upon  my  word,  Sir 
William,  I  think  you  might  very  well  be  without  it.'  '  There, 
Mr.  Cooper,  you  and  I  differ.  Mr.  Vanderaa,  let  that  book  be 
packed  up  and  sent  to  me,  to  Scotland.'  " 

Another  story  was  no  doubt  often  received  with  obsequious 
merriment  at  the  circuit  dinners. 

"  Sir  William  Gordon  wanted  a  servant  who  could  write  well. 
'  My  father,'  said  he,  '  knew  of  a  very  clever  fellow,  but  the  most 
drunken,  good-for-nothing  dog  that  ever  lived.'  '  Oh,'  said  Sir 
William,  '  no  matter  for  that,  let  him  be  sent  for.'  So  when  he 
came.  Sir  William  asked  him  a  great  many  questions,  to  which 
Brodie  answered  most  distinctly.  At  last  he  asked  him,  '  Can  you 
write  Latin,  sir  ?  '  '  Can  your  honour  read  it  ? '  said  he.  Sir 
William  was  quite  fond  of  him,  and  had  him  drest  out  to  all  ad- 
vantage. One  day,  at  his  own  table,  he  was  telling  a  story.  'Not 
so,  sir,'  said  Brodie,  who  was  standing  at  his  back.  '  You  dog,' 
said  he,  '  how  do  you  know  ?  '  '  Because  I  have  heard  your  honour 
tell  it  before.'     He  lived  with  Sir  William  more  than  seven  years." 

His  son,  when  out  riding  with  him,  often  complained  of 
fatigue,  and  added,  that  "nothing  so  fatigued  as  the  hinging  upon 
a  horse."  His  father  replied,  "  What  does  it  matter  how  a  man 
hinge  if  he  is  not  hinging  upon  a  gallows  ?  " 

The  interest  of  such  stories,  as  is  often  the  case  with  stories 


12  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

His  judgments  had  a  quaiut  eccentric  turn  with 
humorous  touches.  The  Scottish  judges  in  the  last 
century  were,  in  private  as  well  as  on  the  bench,  a 
strange  body,  and  few  more  eccentric  beings  could  be 
imagined  than  Monboddo,  C'ovington,  Kames,  and 
Auchinleck.* 

Yet  there  was  something  that  interested  in  this 
inflexible  old  Scot,  who  was  as  proud  of  being  a  laird 
as  he  was  of  being  a  judge.  He  took  great  delight  in 
his  old  Ayrshire  castle,  which,  with  its  fine  scenery  and 
ruins,  was  deservedly  admired  ;  and  as  his  immediate 
progenitors,  his  father,  grandfather,  with  others  of  the 
race,  had  all  contributed  to  the  credit  of  the  house,  he 
might  have  looked  forward  to  his  son  distinguishing 
himself  in  the  same  way. 

Johnson  gives  a  pleasing  picture  of  the  place  and  of 
its  owner.  "  Lord  Auchinleck,"  ho  Avrites,  "  w^ho  is  one 
of  the  judges  of  Scotland,  and  therefore  not  wholly  at 
leisure  for  domestic  business  or  pleasure,  has  yet  found 
time  to  make  improvements  in  his  patrimony.  He  has 
built  a  house  of  hard  stone,  very  stately  and  durable, 
and  has  advanced  the  value  of  his  lands  with  great 
tenderness  to  his  tenants.    I  was,  however,  less  delighted 

of  old  judges,  is  entirely  local  and  professional.  Mr.  Ramsay, 
of  Ochiltyre,  gives  this  specimen  of  the  judge's  humour.  The  tailors 
of  Perth  took  an  action  against  the  mantua-makers  as  infringing  on 
their  rights,  they  claiming  to  have  the  privilege  from  William  the 
Lion  himself.  "Auchinleck"  wrote  a  much-admired  paper  as 
Counsel  for  the  milliners.  He  supposed  William  the  Lion's  master 
tailor  conjured  up  to  give  his  opinions  of  a  modern  lady's  dress. 
A  conceit  v?hich  the  relater  declared  was  not  unworthy  of  Swift. 

*  Their  peculiarities  are  described  in  that  odd  composition, 
"The  Court  of  Session  Garland"  (given  in  Robert  Chambers' 
"Traditions  of  Edinburgh"),  some  verses  of  which  are  by  James 
Boswell.     One    judge    was    noted    for    using    the    coarse   word 

"b h"    on   every   occasion,    and   when    taking    leave    of    his- 

brethren,  said,  "  Farewell,  ye  b hes." 


THE  BO  SWELLS — LOBD   AUCHINLECK.  13 

with  tlic  eleo-ancc  of  the  modern  mansion  than  with  the 
solemn  dignity  of  the  ohl  castle.  I  clambered  with  Mr. 
Boswell  among  the  ruins,  which  afford  striking  images 
of  ancient  life.  At  no  great  distance  from  the  house 
runs  a  pleasing  brook,  by  a  red  rock,  out  of  which  has 
been  hewn  a  very  agreeable  and  commodious  summer- 
house,  at  less  expense,  Lord  Auchinleck  told  me,  than 
would  have  been  required  to  build  a  room  of  the  same 
dimensions." 

He  had  built  himself  a  good  modern  house,  in  the 
Grecian  manner,  an  early  work  of  one  of  the  brothers 
Adam.  There  is,  besides,  an  older  house,  now  a  ruin, 
situated  near  the  gardens,  and  on  a  bank  above  the 
river.  "  The  old  castle  is  close  by,  and  stands  upon  a 
rock,  at  the  confluence  of  the  river  and  the  burn.  The 
view"  from  the  gardens  is  very  fine,  looking  down  the 
river  in  a  vista  between  rocks,  and  well-wooded.  On 
the  avenue  leading  towards  Ayr  there  is  a  lofty  bridge 
overlooking  the  burn.  The  modern  house  occupies  a 
commanding  position,  and,  from  the  windows  behind,  the 
sea  mav  be  seen.  The  road  to  the  church,  which  Dr. 
Johnson  called  the  via  sacra,  is  nearly  straight  for 
•upwards  of  two  miles.  Now  the  Glasgow  Eailway  runs 
through  the  estates,  and  factories  have  been  erected. 
The  family  burying-place  is  behind  the  old  church,  and 
there  lie  the  remains  of  James  Boswell."  * 

*  This  pleasing  description  of  Auchinleck  as  it  now  appears, 
has  been  furnished  to  me  by  a  resident  well  acquainted  with  the 
place. 


14  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 


CHAPTER   II. 

JAMES    BOSWELL's    CHILDHOOD    AND    EDUCATIOX. 

1740-1700. 

James  Boswell,  to  whom  the  world  ow^es  so  large  a  debt 
for  entertainment  of  a  very  original  and  perennial  kind, 
was  born  on  October  29,  1740.  His  mother  was  Miss 
Euphemia  Erskine,  who  w^as  connected  witli  the  noble 
house  of  Mar.  Brought  up  at  Auchinleck,  the  family 
seat,  w^here  his  father  had  built  a  mansion  close  to  the 
old  castle,  James  was  placed  under  the  tutor-,  or  domine- 
ship,  of  Mr.  John  Dunn,  a  worthy  clergyman  of  poetical 
tastes,  who  had  been  appointed  by  the  laird  to  the 
ministry  of  Auchinleck.  This  pedagogue  had  thus  a 
fair  claim  on  his  forbearance,  or,  at  least,  discretion  ;  but, 
carried  away  by  the  spirit  of  his  work,  and  a  craze  for 
reporting  every  detail,  he  could  not  bring  himself  to  spare 
even  his  master.  When  the  "Tour"  appeared,  the  worthy 
Mr.  Dunn  must  have  read  with  grief  and  astonishment 
a  most  unflattering  sketch  of  himself  in  his  pupil's  book. 
After  Dr.  Johnson  and  his  guide  had  arrived  at  Auchin- 
leck, the  minister  courteously  invited  both  to  dine  at 
his  manse.  "  Mr.  Dunn,"  says  Boswell,  "  though  a  man 
of  sincere  good  principles  as  a  Presbyterian  divine,  dis- 
covered a  narrowness  of  information  concerning  the 
dio;nitaries  of  the  Church  of  Enirland.     He  talked  before 


JAMES  BOSWELVS   CHILDHOOD   AND   EDUCATION.    15 

Dr.  Johnson  of  fat  bisliops  and  drowsy  deans  ;  and,  in 
short,  seemed  to  believe  the  illiberal  and  profane  scoff- 
ings  of  professed  satirists  or  vulgar  railers.  Dr.  John- 
son was  so  highly  offended,  that  he  said  to  him,  '  Sir, 
you  know  no  more  of  our  Church  than  a  Hottentot.'  I 
was  sorry  that  he  brought  this  upon  himself."  No  doubt 
the  clergyman  made  remonstrance;  and  Bos  well  felt  con- 
strained to  alter  the  passage,  turning  it  into  "  one  of 
them" — that  is,  one  of  a  number  of  clergymen  w^hom 
Johnson  met. 

Under  this  pedagogue  he  received  the  early  rudi- 
ments of  his  education,  being  strictly  supervised  by  the 
stern  old  judge.  We  have  one  characteristic  trait,  and 
but  one  only,  of  the  child  Boswell,  which  his  great  friend 
was  fond  of  telling,  "  from  my  relation  to  him."  "  Bos- 
well, in  the  year  1745,  was  a  fine  boy,  wore  a  wdaite 
cockade,  and  prayed  for  King  James,  till  one  of  his 
uncles  (General  Cochran)  gave  him  a  shilling,  on  con- 
dition that  he  would  pray  for  King  George,  which  he 
accordingly  did.  '  So  you  see,'  says  Boswell,  '  that 
Whigs  of  all  ages  are  made  in  the  same  w^ay.' "  To  the 
end  he  w^as  ahvays  a  Jacobite. 

Keleased  from  Mr.  Dunn's  care,  the  young  James 
was  despatched  to  a  private  school  at  Edinburgh,  kept 
by  Mr.  James  Mundell,  and  later  to  the  High  School, 
where  he  was  placed  under  Mr.  John  Gilchrist,  a  re- 
nowned classical  scholar.  When  he  had  finished  his 
course  in  this  academy,  he  w^as  put  to  study  law, 
and  regularly  attended  lectures.  Instead,  however,  of 
diligently  pursuing  his  studies,  he  fell  into  idleness  and 
dissipation,  wdiich  continued  during  his  youth,  bringing 
much  annoyance  to  his  excellent  father.  Mr.  Ramsay, 
wdio  knew  both,  tells  us  "  that  the  evening  of  the  judge's 
life  was   much  clouded  by  the  absurdity,  eccentricity, 


16  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

and  miscliievousness  of  his  son  J  ames.  A  volume  miglit 
be  written  upon  that  extraordinary  young  man."  He 
was  soon  initiated  into  all  the  dissipation  and  vices  of 
the  city.  Even  then  he  was  deluding  himself  and  his 
friends  hy  what  was  hereafter  to  become  one  of  the 
great  snares  which  led  him  into  follies — the  salving 
over  his  excesses  by  indulgence  in  soothing  moral  senti- 
ments, and  wholesome  religious  impressions ;  and  he 
could  write  to  a  friend  in  this  rather  pharisaical  strain  : 
"I  dare  say  it  gives  you  much  uneasiness  to  be  amongst 
so  profligate  a  set.  I  hope,  by  Divine  assistance,  you 
shall  still  preserve  your  amiable  character  amidst  all  the 
deceitful  blandishments  of  vice  and  folly." 

Among  Boswell's  fellow-students  at  the  University 
was  a  young  Englishman,  William  Johnson  Temple, 
who  had  been  sent,  as  was  the  fashion  of  the  time,  to 
pursue  his  studies  at  Edinburgh.  With  him,  Boswell, 
who  was  ever  of  an  aftectionate  disposition,  contracted 
the  warmest  and  most  confidential  friendship,  which 
lasted,  without  any  abatement,  all  their  lives.  They 
were  of  the  same  temperament,  both  being  devoted  to 
pleasure,  and  lax  in  conduct,  yet  with  a  strong  religious 
"turn,"  as  it  is  called.  To  him  Boswell  opened  more 
of  his  heart  than  he  did  to  any  one  :  to  him  every 
trouble,  every  fit  of  low  spirits,  every  temptation  and 
"fall"  even,  were  recounted  with  so  strange  a  candour 
that  the  editor  of  these  confidences  could  not  venture 
to  print  them. 

Temple  in  due  course  left  Edinburgh  for  Cam- 
bridge, took  orders,  and,  securing  the  patronage  of  Lord 
Lisburne,  was  given  by  him  the  rectory  of  Mamhead, 
in  Devonshire,  which  he  later  exchanged  for  that  of 
St.  Gluvias,  in  Cornwall.  He  had  literary  tastes,  and 
has  left  behind   some  works,  now   forgotten,  such   as 


JAMES  BO  SWELL'S   CIIILBIIOOD   AND   EDUCATION.    17 

ill!  "  Essay  on  tlic  Clergy,  tlicir  Studies,  Recreations, 
Doctrines,"  etc.,  "Political  Memoirs,"  etc.  HaviDg 
known  Gray,  liis  little  sketch  of  him  was  adopted  by 
both  Johnson  and  Mason,  in  their  accounts  of  the  poet. 
AVith  Temple,  as  we  said,  his  friend  maintained  an  inti- 
mate correspondence  for  over  thirty  years,  and  the  last 
letters  he  wrote,  and  the  last  dictated  from  his  dyin<^ 
bed,  were  addressed  to  Temple,  The  latter  seems  to 
have  preserved  carefully  every  letter  of  Bos  well's  (indeed, 
Boswell  had  directed  him  to  "  paste  them  into  a  book"), 
and  it  must  be  said  that,  for  native  and  genuine  affec- 
tionate warmth,  vivacity,  and  expression,  they  are  re- 
markable productions.  No  one  could  have  revealed 
his  character  with  greater  naivete:  he  exhibits  now 
tumultuous  spirits,  now  vivacity,  according  to  the  mood  ; 
now  the  most  extreme  dejection  and  despair.  His 
sketches  of  excursions,  of  characters,  his  little  vanity  in 
his  own  success,  and  his  numerous  "  castles  in  the  air," 
built  on  no  foundation,  with  the  most  sanguine  hopes, 
all  are  interesting  and  amusing.* 

The  fate  of  the  letters  was  almost  romantic,  and 
their  escape  from  destruction  owing  to  an  extraordinary 
chance. 

"  Many  years  ago  a  gentleman  named  Storer,  having 
occasion  to  buy  some  small  articles  at  the  shop  of 
Madame  Noel,  at  Boulogne,  observed  that  the  paper  in 
which  they  were  wrapped  was  the  fragment  of  an  Eng- 
lish letter.  Upon  inspection,  a  date  and  some  names 
were  discovered :  and  further  investigation  proved  that 
the  piece  of  paper  in  question  was  part  of  a  correspon- 
dence, carried  on  nearly  a  century  before,  between  the 
biographer  of  Johnson  and  his  early  friend,  the   Rev. 

*  One  of  Temple's  sons  became  a  lieutenant  in  tlie  navy,  and  of 
Lis  two  daug-liters,  one  was  married  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Powlett. 
VOL.  1.  c 


18  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

Mr.  Temple.  On  making  inquiiy,  it  was  ascertained 
that  this  piece  of  paper  had  been  taken  from  a  large 
parcel  recently  purchased  from  a  hawker,  who  was  in 
the  habit  of  passing  through  Boulogne  once  or  twice  a 
year,  for  the  purpose  of  sup];)lying  the  different  shops 
with  paper.  The  whole  contents  of  the  parcel  were 
immediately  secured."  As  all  this  had  rather  a  melo- 
dramatic, if  not  suspicious  look,  doubts  were  freely 
expressed  at  the  time  of  their  publication,  in  1857.  Of 
their  genuineness,  however,  there  can  be  no  cjuestion,  as 
the  Eev.  Mr.  El  win,  a  skilled  and  accomplished  critic, 
who  examined  the  papers,  has  assured  me.  It  seems 
that,  on  Temple's  death,  all  his  papers  passed  into  the 
possession  of  his  son-in-law,  who  went  to  reside  in 
France.  From  the  purchaser  the  papers  fell  into  the 
hands  of  his  nephew,  Mr.  Augustus  Boyse,  who  gave 
them  to  Mr.  Bentley  for  publication. 

Much  discretion  and  suppression  had  to  be  used  to 
fit  the  letters  for  presentation  to  the  public,  as  our 
"  Bozzy  "  had  set  down  matter  which  few  would  dream 
of  entrusting,  by  word  of  mouth  even,  to  their  most 
confidential  friend.  As  Mr.  Elwin  wrote  justly,  "  They 
undoubtedly  furnish  fresh  and  abundant  proofs  of  the 
absurdity,  the  conceit,  the  profligacy,  and  the  total 
absence  of  self-respect,  which  have  made  his  name  a 
name  of  reproach  ;  but  do  they  not  also  contain  evidence 
of  some  nobler  motives  and  some  hio^her  faculties  ? " 

Another  of  his  fellow-students  was  Henry  Dundas, 
the  "  King  Harry  "  of  later  years,  who  w^as  destined  to 
hold  the  patronage  of  Scotland  in  the  hollow  of  his 
hand.  Some  forty  years  after,  when  Boswell  was 
panting  for  place  and  promotion,  he  jDublicly  appealed 
to  this  gentleman,  remindins^  him  of  their  old  com- 
panionship,  and  on  what  good  terms  they  had  been  at 


JAMES  BOSWELVS   CHILDHOOD   AND  EDUCATION.    1.9 

college  :  an  odd  suggestion,  wliicli,  as  might  be  expected, 
produced  not  the  smallest  effect  on  the  rather  Philistine 
nature  of  the  great  man.  But  there  was  another  ac- 
quaintance made,  when  he  was  only  eighteen,  and  not 
likely  to  have  been  very  profitable.  He  was  introduced 
to  Hume,  whom  he  describes  as  "  a  most  discreet, 
affable  man,  as  ever  I  met  luith,  and  has  really  a  great 
deal  of  learning,  and  a  choice  collection  of  books.  He 
is  indeed  an  extraordinary  man — few  such  people  are 
to  be  met  with  nowadays.  We  talk  a  great  deal  of 
genius,  fine  language,  improving  our  style,  etc.,  but  I 
am  afraid  solid  learning  is  much  wore  out.  Mr.  Hume, 
I  think,  is  a  very  2^^'oper  person  for  a  young  man  to 
cultivate  an  acquaintance  luith." 

He  was  now  attending  Adam  Smith's  lectures ;  but 
fittractions  of  other  kinds  were  engrossing  him.  He 
had  made  the  acquaintance  at  the  theatre,  with  one  of 
those  unsuccessful  beings  who  try  one  profession  after 
another,  with  the  one  equal  result  of  failure.  This  was 
Francis  Gentleman,  a  pleasant  Irishman  who  had  been 
an  officer  in  the  army,  and  had  taken  to  the  stage. 
Boswell  was  always  partial  to  natives  of  that  country ; 
and  some  of  his  best  friends,  such  as  Burke,  Sheridan 
the  elder,  Captain  Macbride,  Goldsmith,  Murphy,  Malone, 
were  Irish.  Boswell  warmly  encouraged  and  assisted 
Gentleman,  and  the  actor  later  dedicated  a  work 
to  his  patron  in  complimentary  terms.  He  had  also 
formed  an  intimacy  with  one  Love,  an  actor  and 
manager  at  the  Edinburgh  theatre,  who  gave  lessons  in 
elocution,  and  borrowed  money  from  his  pupils.  This 
led  to  visits  behind  the  scenes  and  acquaintance  with 
actresses.  We  should  all,  how^ever,  be  grateful  to  Mr. 
Love  for  one  service  he  did  to  his  pupil.  He  impressed 
on  him  earnestly  the  advantage  of  always  keeping  a 


20  LIFE   OF  JAMES   BO  SWELL. 

journal,  and  tlie  young  man  soon  began  the  practice. 
For  beino;  taken  on  circuit  with  his  father  and  Sir 
David  DaUymple,  he  diligently  set  down  all  he 
observed.  Thus  Mr.  Love  may  claim  some  little  share 
in  his  pupil's  immortal  work. 

Before  he  had  completed  his  course  he  produced  a 
piece  on  the  Edinburgh  boards,  and,  in  his  curious 
account  of  himself  in  the  Euroiwan  Magazine,  he,  not 
without  pride,  gives  the  following  account  of  the 
incident : — 

"  Lady  Houston,  sister  of  the  late  Lord  Cathcart,  put 
under  his  care  a  comedy,  entitled,  '  The  Coquettes ;  or. 
The  Gallant  in  the  Closet ; '  with  a  strict  injunction 
that  its  author  should  be  concealed.  Mr.  Boswell,  who. 
was  then  very  fond  of  the  drama,  and  associated  much 
with  the  players,  got  this  comedy  brought  upon  the 
stage,  and  wrote  the  prologue  to  it,  which  was  spoken 
by  Mr.  Parsons.  But  it  was  not  successful,  being  in 
truth  damned  the  third  night ;  and  not  unjustly,  for 
it  was  found  to  be  chiefly  a  translation  of  one  of  the- 
bad  plays  of  Thomas  Corneille.  Such,  however,  was  the 
fidelity  of  Mr.  Boswell,  that  although  from  his  attending, 
the  rehearsals,  and  other  circumstances,  he  was  generally 
supposed  to  be  the  author  of  it  himself,  and  consequently 
had  the  laugh  and  sneer  of  his  country  against  him,  he 
never  mentioned  by  whom  it  was  written ;  nor  was  it 
known  till  the  discovery  was  made  by  the  lady  herself." 

His  father  heard  of  this  dissipation  and  of  these 
loose  pleasures,  and  removed  him  from  Edinburgh, 
"  placing  him  with  a  friend  to  prosecute  the  study  of 
Eoman  law,  to  which  he  himself  was  devoted.  At 
Auchinleck  he  gave  him  private  instruction  in  this- 
branch,"  which  the  son  acknowledges,  in  his  amusingly 
gracious  style,  as  ''a  circumstance  of  singular  benefit,. 


JAMES  BO  SWELL'S   CHILDHOOD   AND    EDUCATION.    21 

and  of  wliicli  Mr.  Boswell  has  ever  expressed  a  strong 
and  grateful  sense." 

The  chronology  of  this  early  period  of  Boswell's 
course  is  rather  obscure ;  but  we  have  two  dates,  at 
least,  which  are  certain- — -that  of  his  entrance  into 
Glasgow  University,  and  of  his  first  visit  to  London.  In 
the  "matriculation  album"  of  the  University  we  find  : 
"  MDCCLTX.,  die  Januarii  8vo,  tempore  viri  Grenerosi, 
Jacobi  Milliken  de  Milliken,  rectoris  Universitatis  Glas- 
guensis,  est  admissus  Jacobus  Boswell,  filius  natus 
maximus  honorandi  admodum  viri  Alexandri  de  Auchin- 
leck  armigeri,  et  suproemse  apud  Scotos,  in  criminibus, 
Curiae  senatoris." 

But  soon  news  reached  Auchinleck  of  a  strange, 
unprecedented  escapade.  Dr.  Eogers  has  discovered, 
among  the  letters  at  Hailes  Place,  full  evidence  that 
the  young  Boswell  had  at  this  time  turned  Catholic, 
and  was  even  thinking  of  becoming  a  priest !  He  had 
constantly  attended  the  services,  and  it  was  reported 
had  been  formally  received.  This  hitherto  unsuspected 
incident  throws  light  on  many  passages  in  the  "Life  of 
Johnson,"  and  explains  the  sort  of  'penchant  or  hanker- 
ing which  he  always  exhibited  for  Catholic  doctrine.* 
It  will  be  recollected  how  often  he  brought  the  subject 
•of  the  Catholic  religion  under  discussion ;  and  how  he 
strives,  by  opposition,  to  extract  from  Johnson  favour- 
able opinions  of  that  faith,  Johnson,  it  has  been  said, 
was  at  heart  a  Catholic  ;  but  without  Q-oino;  so  far  as 

*  Iq  the  Croker  papers  there  is  a  very  sagacious  letter  of  Mr. 
•Croker's,  pointing  out  the  true  method  of  Boswellian  exegesis,  but 
which,  unhappily,  he  did.  not  follow  out  in  his  own  practice.  Boswell 
revealed  himself  so  sincerely  and  genuinely  in  his  work,  that  from 
the  study  of  his  character,  it  was  likely  many  obscurities  would  be 
cleared  up.  These  passages — and  there  are  many — he  thought  it 
would  be  impossible  to  understand,  without  taking  account  of  Bos- 
well's hyponchondria  and  other  failings. 


22  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

this,  lie  certainly  favoured  Catliolic  doctrines.  A  man 
that  could  loathe  the  reformers  and  never  hear  of  a 
monastery  without  wishing  to  fall  on  his  knees  and  kiss 
the  pavement,  was  hardly  a  Protestant  of  the  last 
century.  Boswell,  like  his  friend,  seems  to  have  clung 
to  the  efficacy  of  prayers  for  the  dead,  and  in  one  of 
their  discussions  on  the  doctrine  of  "the  Real  Presence" 
writes  that  it  was  "  an  aweful  subject." 

After  he  had  been  at  Glasgow  about  a  year,  his 
father  was  to  receive  news  that  his  erratic  son  '"had 
gone  off  with  an  actress  to  London."  Mr.  Eamsay  is 
the  authority  for  this  statement.  He  adds  that  the 
actress  was  of  good  character,  and  a  Catholic ;  and  this 
circumstance  may  have  been  in  some  way  connected 
with  the  young  man's  supposed  conversion.  From 
what  we  know  of  his  character  and  his  warm  tempera- 
ment, he  would  have  been  eager  to  adopt  the  creed  of 
his  new  "  flame."  At  all  events,  it  seems  likely  that 
his  conversion  and  the  elopement  had  some  connection. 

At  Auchinleck  his  chano-e  of  creed  was  thouo;ht 
an  even  more  serious  thing  than  the  elopement.  His 
father's  friend.  Sir  David  Dalrymple,  wrote  to  the  well- 
known  Dr.  Jortin,  then  in  London,  to  find  out  the 
young  man,  and  try  what  his  persuasions  could  effect. 
On  April  27,  1760,  the  divine  wrote  a  letter,  with  an 
account  of  what  he  had  attempted. 

"  Your  young  gentleman  called  at  my  house  on 
Thursday  noon,  April  3rd.  I  was  gone  out  for  the  day, 
and  he  seemed  to  be  concerned  at  the  disappointment, 
and  proposed  to  come  the  day  following.  My  daughter 
told  him  that  I  should  be  engaged  at  church,  it  being 
Good  Friday.  He  then  left  your  letter,  and  a  note 
with  it  for  me,  promising  to  be  with  me  on  Saturday 
morning.     But  from  that  time   to  this  I  have   heard 


JAMES  BO  SWELL'S    CniLDHOOD  AND  EDUCATION.    23 

nothing  of  liim.  He  began,  I  suppose,  to  suspect  some 
design  upon  him,  and  his  new  friends  and  fathers  may 
have  represented  me  to  him  as  an  heretic  and  an  infidel, 
whom  he  ought  to  avoid  as  he  would  the  plague.  I 
should  gladly  have  used  my  best  endeavours  upon  this 
melancholy  occasion,  but,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  my 
hopes  of  success  would  have  been  small.  Nothing  is 
more  intractable  than  a  fanatic.  I  heartily  pity  your 
good  friend.  If  his  son  be  really  sincere  in  his  new 
superstition,  and  sober  in  his  morals,  there  is  some 
comfort  in  that ;  for  surely  a  man  may  be  a  papist  and 
an  honest  man.  It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  the  son 
should  feel  much  for  his  father's  sorrows."  *  But  the 
ardour  of  the  neophyte  had  already  cooled.  The 
restraints  imposed  upon  conduct  by  the  Catholic  faith, 
and  the  rigid  revision  entailed  by  confession,  were  more 
likely  to  have  disenchanted  the  new  catechumen  than 
any  formal  arguments.  As  he  was  later  to  explain  to 
Dr.  Johnson,  he  had  passed  through  all  the  various 
stages  of  doubt  and  religious  opinion.  At  first  brought 
up  on  strict  principles,  he  had  been  misled  "into  a 
certain  degree  of  infidelity."  He  altogether  passed  by 
his  lapse  into  Catholicity,  but  confessed  he  was  fairly 
satisfied  as  to  revelation,  though  not  "clear"  on  every 
point  held  by  the  orthodox.  Plunged  into  the  dissipa- 
tions of  London,  he  was  likely  enough  to  have  discarded 
his  new  principles  with  his  mistress  ;  and  loose  company, 
and  friends  like  Dempster,  did  the  rest.  At  any  rate 
we  hear  no  more  of  Mr.  Boswell's  "  Catholic  leanino-s," 
and  this  curious  incident  was  never  alluded  to  asain. 

*  Dr.  Rogers,    "  Boswelliana."     From  a  letter  of  Dr.  Jortin's 
preserved  at  New  Hailes. 


24  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 


CHAPTER   III. 


"the  cub  at  xewmarket." 


17G0. 

At  tliis  time  we  find  Lord  Aucliinleck  also  in  town, 
whither  he  had  no  doubt  gone  to  look  after  his  way- 
ward son.  He  brought  him  down  to  Whitton,  to  wait 
on  the  Duke  of  Argyle.  As  Boswell  tells  us,  "the 
duke  talked  some  time  with  him,  and  was  pleased,  and 
seemed  surprised  that  Boswell  wanted  to  have  a  com- 
mission in  the  Guards.  His  Grace  took  Bos  well's  father 
aside,  and  said,  '  My  Lord,  I  like  your  son.  That  boy 
must  not  be  shot  at  for  three-and-sixpence  a  day.' " 
This  had  very  much  the  air  of  an  arranged  scene 
between  the  duke  and  the  father,  and  the  young  man 
seems  to  have  been  beguiled  by  the  compliment  which 
accompanied  the  refusal. 

But  his  behaviour  on  this  expedition  was,  in  other 
ways,  likely  to  give  much  annoyance  to  his  worthy 
father.  Later,  he  was  fond  of  alluding  to  this,  his  first 
visit  to  town,  which  he  represented  as  a  sort  of  "junket- 
ting."  In  his  little  memoir  he  tells  us  that  "he  had 
acquired,  from  reading  and  conversation,  an  almost 
enthusiastic  notion  of  the  felicity  of  London,  which  he 
visited,  for  the  first  time,  early  in  the  year  1760,  and 
his  ardent  expectations  were  not  disappointed.     He  had 


THE   CUB  AT  NEWMARKET.  25 

already  given  some  specimens  of  a  talent  for  writing  in 
several  occasional  essays,  both  in  prose  and  verse,  v^itli- 
out  a  name,  and  lie  soon  obtained  the  acquaintance  of 
many  of  the  wits  of  the  metropolis,  having  the  late 
Mr.  Derrick  as  his  introductor  into  '  many-colour'd 
life,'  or,  as  he  has  pleasantly  expressed  it,  his  governor.'' 
From  certain  grateful  allusions,  often  repeated,  he 
seemed  eager  to  have  it  supposed  that  he  came  to  town 
"under  the  wing,"  as  it  were,  or  patronage  of  Lord 
Eglinton.  But  Mr.  Eamsay  tells  another  story.  He 
savs  that  "  Alexander,  Earl  of  Eglinton,  discovered 
him  by  chance  in  London  in  very  had  company.  He 
took  him  to  his  own  house,  and,  thinking  it  the  best 
way  of  redeeming  him,  gave  him  a  view  of  the  gay 
world."  This  receipt  of  the  nobleman  for  reforming  his 
protege,  though  well  meant,  only  confirmed  him  in  his 
dissipated  courses.  Lord  Eglinton  was  indeed  little 
impressed  by  his  frivolous  charge,  "  whose  lively  imagi- 
nation formed  many  schemes,  but  whose  indolence 
hindered  him  from  carrying  them  out."     "Jamie,"  he 

would   tell   him,   "you   have   a   light    head,  but " 

^adding  an  illustration  more  coarse  than  compUmentary.* 
At  this  time  his  protege  seems  unaccountably  to 
have  found  a  pride  in  his  very  "rawness  "  and  rusticity, 
and  in  being  a  sort  of  butt  for  the  English  gentlemen. 
On  one  occasion,  he  was  taken  down  by  his  patron  to 
Newmarket,  where  a  "  whimsical  adventure,''  as  he 
chose  to  call  it,  but  what  was  in  reality  a  very  pointless 
incident  enouo;h,  occurred.  Left  to  himself  in  the 
Jockey  Club  rooms,  and   being  much    stared  at   as   a 

*  It  was  the  same  nobleman  wlio  once  said  to  liis  brother 
and  heir,  Colonel  Montgomerie,  "  If  I  live,  Archie,  I'll  take  care  of 
you."  "  Then,  nij  Lord,"  replied  the  colonel,  "  if  you  die  I'll  take 
care  of  mysel'."  This  seemed  witty  to  old  Lord  Auchinleck  and 
to  his  son. 


26  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

stranger,  the  icieca  occurred  to  him  of  calling  for  pen 
and  ink,  and  writing  verses.  As  he  was  thus  engaged, 
the  racinoc  Q-entlemen  crowded  round  him,  while  an 
enormous  personage  approached,  from  whom  he  shrank 
in  terror,  thus  causing  roars  of  coarse  laughter.  Such, 
and  literally  no  more,  was  the  "whimsical  incident"! 
and  the  young  man  thought  it  so  exquisitely  comical, 
that  he  put  it  all  into  verse,  and  published  it,  even  to 
describino-  himself  with  unction  as  an  uncouth  "  cub." 

o 

"  And  that  your  time  I  mayn't  consume, 
View  him  in  the  new  Coffee  Room. 
There  soon  his  noble  Patron  gay 
Flies  to  his  sportive  friends  away  ; 
And  the  poor  Being  hums  a  song. 

Sometime  stock  still  he  stood  amazed, 
And  with  a  stupid  wonder  gazed. 
Admired  everything  he  saw  ; 
Even  spurs  would  his  attention  draw. 
Sometime  he,  with  an  outward  stride, 
AVould  lift  his  legs  from  side  to  side." 

He  then  describes  himself : 

"  Plumpness  shone  in  his  countenance. 
And  belly  prominent  declared 
That  he  for  beef  and  pudding  cared. 
He  had  a  larg*e  and  ponderous  head 
That  seemed  to  be  composed  of  lead, 
Prom  which  hung  down  such  stiff  lank  hair, 
As  might  the  crows  in  Autumn  scare." 

Sir  C.  Sedley,  a  worthy  knight,  now — 

"  To  the  confounded  Ftit  comes  near, 
Tips  him  at  once  a  friendly  leer," — 

suggesting  that  he  must  be  writing  a  history ;  when  up 
came  "a  sprightly  peer  with  switch  of  oak,"  and  in- 
sisted that  his  friend  should  write  something  in  rhyme. 

"  This  last  design  w^as  scarcely  broached, 
When  lo  !  the  monster  fell  apjDi'oached. 
Our  clown  .  .  . 


TEE   CUB   AT  NEWMARKET.  27 

Quailed  timicl,  as,  with  horrid  grin, 
He  saw  hira  stroke  his  triple  chin. 
The  affrighted  animal  would  skulk, 
And  hide  him  from  the  Enorvious  Bulk. 
You'll  easily  believe,  my  lord. 
That  this  could  no  small  fun  afford." 

■Incl  accordingly,  "dukes,  lords,  and  commons"  joined 
in  roars  of  laughter, — 

"  Eager  a  mighty  joke  to  find, 
I^ot  one  of  'em  a  sentence  spoke, 
With  peals  of  laughter  like  to  choke." 

This  production,  pointless  as  it  is,  and  offering  a 
rather  degrading  picture  of  the  writer,  must  have  been 
hailed  with  delight  by  his  friends.  He  was  encouraged 
to  publish  it,  and  was  actually  privileged  to  read  it  to 
the  "fiddlino;"  Prince  Edward,  who  oave  him  leave  to 
dedicate  it  to  him.* 

In  his  preface  he  tells  that  the  tale  was  true.  "  The 
hero  of  it  is  no  other  than  the  author  himself."  "  It  was 
indeed  catching  the  merriment  as  it  rose  ;  for  it  was 
written  in  the  Newmarket  Coffee-room,  in  which  the 
author,  being  elected  a  member  of  the  Jockey  Club, 
had  the   happiness  of  passing  several   sprightly  good- 

*  This  inscription  is  in  the  most  free  and  easy  style : — 
"  To  his  Horjal  Highness,  Edward,  Duke  of  York. 

"  Sib, — Permit  me  to  take  this  method  of  thanking  your  Royal 
Highness  for  condescending  to  like  the  following  sketch,  or,  in 
other  words,  permit  me  to  let  the  world  know  that  the  same 
'cub  '  has  been  laughed  at  by  the  Duke  of  York,  has  been  read 
to  your  Eoyal  Highness,  by  the  genius  himself,  and  warmed  by 
the  immediate  beams  of  your  kind  indulgence.  Had  I  been  able 
to  conceal  this,  I  should  have  imagined  that  I  had  not  the  least 
spark  of  the  enthusiasm  of  Parnassus  in  my  composition.  To  be 
so  deficient  in  vanity,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  may  be  reckoned  an 
inseparable  characteristic  of  a  poet.  This  trifle,  sir,  would  not 
presume  to  interrupt  you  when  engaged  in  matters  of  consequence. 
It  only  begs  leave  to  pay  its  respects  in  an  hour  devoted  to  cheerful 
festivity.  I  wish  your  Royal  Highness  a  long,  a  merry,  and  a 
happy  life,  and  am,  Your  obliged  servant,"  etc. 


28  LIFE    OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

liumoured  evenings.  After  reciting  the  poem  in  mixed 
companies,  lie  was  seized  with  a  longing  to  publish  this 
piece  of  wit  without  an  instant's  delay."  He  had  sent 
up  his  work  to  Dodsley,  who  was  not  very  forward  in 
taking  up  the  scheme.  The  author,  on  February  10, 
1762,  then  wrote  to  the  printer  to  take  the  matter  in 
hand  with  all  despatch,  leaving  for  later  consideration 
the  choice  of  publisher. 

Boswcll  to  a  Printer. 

"  Sir, — As  you  are  the  correspondent  of  my  friend 
Mr.  Donaldson,  I  shall,  without  any  further  introduc- 
tion, give  you  a  commission  to  execute  for  me.  Some 
time  ago  I  sent  to  London  a  poem  entitled  '  The  Cub 
at  Newmarket,'  a  tale,  which  is  now  lying  in  the  hands 
of  a  Mr.  James  Dodsley,  Bookseller,  Pall  Mall.  Im- 
mediately upon  receipt  of  this,  please  send  the  enclosed 
line  to  him  for  the  above-mentioned  essay,  and,  when 
you  have  got  it,  let  it  be  put  to  the  press  with  all 
expedition.  I  choose  to  publish  for  myself,  and  to  take 
the  chance  of  profit  or  loss  ;  I  know  that  small  essays 
for  the  most  part  don't  pay  costs,  but  I  shall  venture 
this. 

"  If  Mr.  Dodsley  pleases,  his  name  can  be  put  ou 
the  title-page  with  yours  or  any  other  English  book- 
seller's. You  may  also  add  '  and  for  A.  Donaldson, 
Edinburgh.'  Make  no  delay,  print  it  with  the  dedica- 
tion and  preface,  just  as  they  stand.  Let  no  expense  be 
spared  to  make  it  genteel.  Let  it  be  done  on  large 
quarto,  and  a  good  type.  Price  one  shilling.  Send  me 
a  j)roof  of  it  as  soon  as  it  is  thrown  off,  which  I  shall 
correct  and  return.  This  to  be  done  without  further 
notice   from,    Sir,    your   most   humble  Servant,  James 

Bos  WELL." 


THE   CUB  AT  NEWMARKET.  2& 

Lord  Eglingtoii's  kindness  and  hospitality  were  but 
ill  requited  by  these  freedoms.  He  had  insisted  on 
giving  his  protege  an  apartment  in  his  town  house. 

Boswell  long  after  recalled  this  early  patron  with 
much  affection.  ''  All  who  knew  his  Lordship,  will  allow 
that  his  understanding  and  accomplishments  were  of  no 
ordinary  rate.  From  the  gay  habits  which  he  had  early 
acquired,  he  spent  too  much  of  his  time  with  men,  and 
in  pursuits  far  beneath  such  a  mind  as  his.  He  after- 
wards became  sensible  of  it,  and  turned  his  thoughts  to 
objects  of  importance ;  but  was  cut  off  in  the  prime  of 
his  life.  I  cannot  speak  of  him,  but  with  emotions  of 
the  most  affectionate  regret." 

These  follies  would  not  have  been  tolerated,  but  for  the 
good  nature  and  good  humour  of  the  young  fellow  him- 
self. Such  often  extenuate  even  greater  faults,  and 
with  the  world  is  a  general  passport.  At  the  beginning, 
as  at  the  end,  Boswell  was  always  hon  enfant,  chatty, 
amusing,  absurd  sometimes,  but  invariably  good- 
humoured  and  good-natured. 

Among  the  "  bad  company "  from  which  Lord 
Eslington  rescued  him  was  that  of  Derrick,  from  whom 
Boswell  boasted  he  had  learned  all  that  was  knowable 
of  "  fast  life"  upon  town.  He  affectionately  called  him 
his  "governor,"  and  gratefully  acknowledged  that  he 
introduced  him  generally.  Later,  Derrick — a  ready, 
shifty  creature  enough — became  Master  of  Ceremonies  at 
Bath.  "  Poor  Derrick,"  adds  his  pupil,  "  I  remember  him 
with  kindness;"  but,  after  his  odd  fashion,  our  chronicler 
took  care  to  record  what  could  belittle  his  friend.* 

*  One  of  Derrick's  travelling-  letters  from  Ireland  is  addressed 
to  "  James  Boswell,  Esqre."  Johnson  praised  tliis  gentleman's 
readiness  of  reply,  when  he  was  surprised  sleeping-  "on  a  balk" 
in  the  street. 


30  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

After  the  London  trip  of  17 (SO,  Lord  Eglington  had 
asked  Boswell  and  Derrick,  with  some  other  friends,  to 
his  castle.  When  he  and  Mr.  Home  were  walking  in 
the  dining-room,  Boswell  quoted  some  verses — 

"  Unless  my  lines  portray  my  fame, 
And  those  wlio  choose  to  read  them,  cry 
'  I  knew  him  !    Derrick  was  his  name, 
In  yonder  tomb  liis  ashes  lie.'  " 

Which  on  the   instant,  Mr.   Home,  we  are  told,    thus 
''''  happily  parodied  " — 

"  Unless  my  deeds  portray  my  fame, 
And  he  who  passes  sadly  sings, 
'  I  knew  him  !     Derrick  was  his  name, 
On  yonder  tree  his  carcass  swings.'  " 

In  which  there  is  surely  but  little  point  and  no  "  happy 
parody,"  nor  indeed  meaning. 

Among  his  other  freaks  we  find  that  he  had  about 
this  time,  unknown  to  his  father,  entered  himself 
a  student  at  the  Inner  Temple,  with  the  view  of 
going  to  the  English  Bar.  This  caprice,  for  it  can  be 
considered  as  nothing  else,  did  not  go  beyond  the  first 
step.  But  it  w^ould  have  been  as  distasteful  to  his 
father,  had  he  ever  heard  of  it,  as  his  plan  for  the  army. 
Boswell  attempted  several  times  during  his  course  to 
enter  at  one  of  the  English  Inns  of  Court,  but  in  this 
uncertain  hesitating  w^ay.* 

*  "  Boswell,  Jacobus,  Armiger,  filius  et  hceres  apparens  Honora- 
bilis  Domini  Auchinleck  de  Britann'  Boreal — generaliter  admissus 
est  in  Societatem  istius  Coitivse,  in  consideratione  trium  Librarum 
sex  Solidorum,  et  octo  denariorum  praemanibus  solut :  decimo 
nono  die  Novembris  Annoque  Domini  1761°." — From  the  Hooks  of 
the  Society. 


(     31     ) 


CHAPTER   IV. 

LIFE    AT   EDINBUEGH. 

After  this  escapade,  we  find  the  young  Boswell,  in  the 
May  of  the  following  year,  1761,  settled  at  Edinburgh. 
His  visit  to  town  had  thoroughly  disgusted  him  with 
the  provincial  capital.  He  did  not  the  less  indulge 
himself  in  such  pleasures  as  the  place  afforded.  "  Some 
disagreeable  reports"  of  his  excesses  travelled  to  his 
friend  Temple,  at  Cambridge.  "  I  grant  you,"  wrote 
Mr.  Boswell,  "  that  my  behaviour  has  not  been  entirely 
as  it  ought  to  be.  A  young  fellow  whose  happiness  was 
always  centred  in  London,  who  had  at  least  got  there, 
and  had  begun  to  taste  its  delights,  who  had  got  his 
mind  filled  with  the  most  gay  ideas, — getting  into  the 
Guards,  being  about  Court,  enjoying  the  happiness  of 
the  heau  monde  and  the  company  of  men  of  genius,  in 
short  everything  that  he  could  wish, — consider  this 
poor  fellow  hauled  away  to  the  town  of  Edinburgh, 
obliged  to  conform  to  every  Scotch  custom  or  be  laughed 
at — 'Will  you  hae  some  jeel?  oh  fie!  oh  fie!' — his 
flighty  imagination  quite  cramped,  and  he  obliged  to 
study  Corpus  Juris  Civilis,  and  live  in  his  father's  strict 
family ;  is  there  any  wonder,  Sir,  that  the  unlucky  dog 
should  be  somewhat  fretful  ? "  This  is  amusingly 
characteristic :  and  for  the  rest  of  his  life  Mr.  Boswell 


32  LIFE   OF  JAMES   BOSWELL. 

was  to  exhibit  the  same  repulsion  to  native  habits,  and 
to  the  question,  "  Will  you  liae  some  jeel  ?  " 

He  appears  to  have  been  early  introduced  into  those 
convivial  or  buffooning  societies,  which  then  flourished 
at  Edinburgh, — a  compliment,  as  he  fancied  it,  to  his 
own  social  powers  ;  though  he  was  rather  welcomed  as 
a  butt  of  the  first  order.  One  of  these  he  himself 
founded,  which  was  called  "the  Soaping  Club,"  whose 
motto  was  "  Let  every  man  soap  his  own  beard  ; "  that 
is,  "Let  every  man  indulge  his  own  humour."  Their 
favourite  "game"  was  a  so-called  facetious  one,  "Snip, 
snap,  snorum," — a  not  very  high  form  of  humour.  His 
friend,  Captain  Erskine,  in  suitably  doggerel  lines, 
gratefully  acknowledged  that  he  was  introduced  to  this 
society  under  his  high  patronage. 

"  You  kindly  took  me  up,  an  awkward  cub, 
And  mtroduced  me  to  the  Soaping  Club, 
Where,  every  Tuesday  eve,  our  ears  are  blest 
With  genuine  humour  and  with  genuine  jest. 
Say,  who  would  e'er  indulge  in  a  yawn  or  nap. 
When  Barclay  roars  forth  '  Snip  '  and  Bainbridge  '  Snap  '  ?  "' 

Throughout  his  life  Boswell,  when  he  was  excited 
by  wine,  became  boisterous,  and  under  the  delusion 
that  his  wit  was  thereby  inspired.  His  own  too 
candid  account  of  his  behaviour  to  Miss  Monckton, 
when  in  this  condition,  is  a  good  specimen.  Most  of 
his  countrymen,  however,  have  the  art  of  "  carrying 
their  liquor  discreetly  "  and  silently,  like  the  good  Baron 
of  Bradwardine. 

"  At  this  early  period,"  he  confides  to  us,  "  he  was 
flattered  by  being  held  forth  as  a  patron  of  literature  ; 
for  Mr.  Francis  Gentleman  published  at  the  elegant 
press  of  the  Fouliss  the  tragedy  of  Oroonoho,  altered 
from  South  erne,  and  inscribed  it  to  him  in  a  poetical 
epistle,  concluding  thus,  in  the  person  of  his  Muse : — 


LIFE  AT  EDINBUBGn.  33 

"  But  "svlien  with  lioncsfc  pleasure  she  can  find 
Sense,  taste,  relis'ion,  and  g'ood-nature  join'd, 
There  gladly  will  she  raise  her  feeble  voice, 
Nor  fear  to  tell  that  Boswell  is  her  choice." 

This  ofentleman  was  one  of  those  odd  adventurers 

who    "  hung   loose   upon   society,"    and    a   sad    plague 

to   Mr.    Garrick.       Another   of    Boswell's   friends   was 

Mr.   Colquet,  "one  of  the  ministers  of  the  Church  of 

England  Chapel  at  Edinburgh,  a  man  who  had  lived 

much    in   the    world,  and,    with    other    qualities,    was 

eminent  for  gay  sociality.     Mr.  Boswell  thus  speaks  of 

him  : — 

"  '  And  he  owns  that  Ned  Colquet  the  priest 
May  to  something  of  humour  pretend; 
And  he  swears  that  he  is  not  in  jest, 

When  he  calls  this  same  Colquet  his  friend.' 

"  '  We '  {i.e.  Boswell)  '  cannot  but  observe  that  there 

are  traits  in  it  which  time  has  not  yet  altered.     As,  for 

instance, — 

"  '  Boswell  does  women  adore. 

And  never  once  means  to  deceive ; 
He's  in  love  with  at  least  half  a  score. 

If  they're  serious  he  smiles  in  his  sleeve.' 

And  that  egotism  and  self-applause  which  he  is  still 
displaying,  yet,  it  would  seem,  with  a  conscious  smile : 

"  ' Boswell  is  modest  enough. 

Himself  not  qidte  Phoebus  he  thinks.' 

And,  again : 

"  '  He  has  all  the  bright  fancy  of  youth, 
With  the  judgment  of  forty  and  five; 
In  short,  to  declare  the  plain  truth, 
There  is  no  better  fellow  alive.' 

"Having  an  uncommon  desire  for  the  company  of 
men  distinguished  for  talents  and  literature,  he  was 
fortunate  enough  to  get  himself  received  into  that  of 
those  who  were  considerably  his  superiors  in  age  ;  such 

VOL.  I.  ^ 


34  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

iis  Lord  Elibank,  Lord  Karnes,  Sir  David  Dalrymple, 
Dr.  Robertson,  Dr.  Blair,  Mr.  David  Hume,  Dr.  Carlyle, 
Mr.  Andrew  Stuart,  and  others ;  and  was  admitted  a 
member  of  the  Select  Society  of  Edinburgh."  *  A  more 
distinguished  associate  was  Lord  Somerville,  "who  en- 
couraged him  to  seek  more  refined  company.  Boswell 
gratefully  recalled  these  early  attentions.  "  Let  me  here 
express  my  grateful  remembrance  of  Lord  Somerville's 
kindness  to  me,  at  a  very  early  period.  He  was  the 
ifirst  person  of  high  rank  that  took  particular  notice  of 
me  in  the  way  most  flattering  to  a  young  man,  fondly 
ambitious  of  being  distinguished  for  his  literary  talents  ; 
and  by  the  honour  of  his  encouragement  made  me  think 
well  of  myself,  and  aspire  to  deserve  it  better.  Never 
:shall  I  forget  the  hours  which  I  enjoyed  with  him  at  his 
apartments  in  the  royal  palace  of  Holyrood  House,  and 
at  his  seat  near  Edinburgh,  which  he  himself  had  formed 
with  an  elegant  taste." 

But  it  was  when  he  indulged  in  what  were  called 
'"occasional  verses"  that  he  revealed  the  weak  side  of 
his  disposition,  and  an  absence  of  self-respect,  while 
he  fancied  he  was  compelling  respect.  This  excited  the 
laughter  of  his  friends.  In  these  productions,  praise,  or 
description  of  himself  and  his  peculiarities,  as  in  "The 
Cub,"  were  the  themes  which  he  fancied  were  most 
interesting  to  his  hearers  or  readers.  It  seems  incredible 
that  a  man  should  compose  and  sing  a  song,  ridiculing 
himself  and  his  own  character,  mistaking  the  laughter 
which  he  invited  for  appreciation. 

"B ,  of  Soapers  the  king, 

On  Tuesdays  at  Tom's  does  appear, 
And  when  he  does  talk,  or  does  sing, 
To  him  ne'er  a  one  can  come  near ; 

*  BosweU's  Memoir,  in  the  European  Magazine, 


LIFE  AT  EDINDURGIL  35 

For  lie  talks  witli  such  eiiso  and  such  grace, 

That  all  cluirm'd  to  attention  we  sit, 
And  he  sings  with  so  comic  a  face, 

That  our  sides  are  just  ready  to  split, 

"  B is  pleasant  and  gay, 

For  frolic  by  nature  design'd  ; 
He  heedlessly  rattles  away 

When  the  company  is  to  his  mind. 
'  This  maxim,'  he  says,  'you  may  see, 

We  can  never  have  corn  without  chaff ;  ' 
So  not  a  bent  sixpence  cares  he. 

Whether  toith  him  or  at  him  you  laugh. 

"  B does  women  adore, 

And  never  once  means  to  deceive, 
He's  in  love  with  at  least  half  a  score  ; 

If  they're  serious  he  smiles  in  his  sleeve. 
He  has  all  the  bright  fancy  of  youth, 

With  the  judgment  of  forty  and  five. 
In  short,  to  declare  the  plain  truth. 

There  is  no  better  fellow  alive." 

No  doubt  at  this  time,  as  always,  lie  was  an  amusing 
fellow  enough,  owing  to  this  readiness  to  talk  and 
furnish  entertainment,  at  his  own  expense.  Still,  there 
was  truth  in  the  compliment  one  of  his  teachers,  Pro- 
fessor Smith,  paid  him,  "  that  he  was  happily  possessed 
of  i\  facility  of  manners  I " — "  to  use  the  very  words  of 
the  professor,"  adds  Bos  well,  trumpeting  it  to  his 
friends,  "which,  upon  my  honour,  were  addressed  to 
me — I  can  produce  the  letter  in  which  they  are  to  be 
found  ; " — a  characteristic  touch. 

It  was  in  the  summer  of  17G1,  that  Thomas 
Sheridan,  the  elocutionist  and  actor,  came  to  Edinburgh 
to  give  lectures  and  teach  the  Scotch  lawyers  how  to 
get  rid  of  their  uncouth  brogue.  It  is  amusing  to  find 
w^hat  pains  the  Scotch  gentlemen  took  in  this  laudable 
pursuit  of  acquiring  "  the  English  accent."  "  Mr.  David 
l\ae,  advocate,  Avhen  he  pleaded  in  appeals  at  the  bar 
of  the  House  of  Lords,  used  to  speak  a  strange  kind  of 


36  LIFE    OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

English  by  way  of  avoiding  Scotch.  In  particuLar  he 
pronounced  the  termination  tion,  as  in  petition,  very 
open,  that  he  might  not  sound  it  shin,  as  is  done  in 
Scotland,  Mr.  Nairne,  advocate,  said  Mr.  Eae  has. 
shone — tio)i — more  in  the  House  of  Lords  than  any 
man." 

Boswell  became  one  of  his  pupils,  and,  under  his 
instruction,  took  much  pains  to  get  rid  of  the  native 
accent.  His  friend  Love,  the  actor,  also  gave  him 
lessons  in  this  important  branch.  vSome  years  later  he 
appealed  to  Johnson  to  pronounce  what  success  had 
been  obtained  by  such  exertion,  and  was  told,  "Sir, 
your  pronunciation  is  not  offensive "  —  no  very 
encouraging  praise.  "With  this  concession,"  says  the 
pupil,  "  I  was  obliged  to  be  content."  More  interesting 
to  him,  however,  was  the  account  the  professor  would 
give  of  the  great  sage,  and  with  such  spirit,  that  the 
pupil  was  seized  with  a  longing  to  know  him  intimately. 
Sheridan  was  to  him,  he  says,  "  a  very  kind  friend ;  '^ 
for  he  lent  him  a  substantial  sum  of  money  to  pay  off" 
some  gaming  debts — taking  his  promise  that  he  would 
not  play  again  for  three  years.  This  was  a  striking 
and  remarkable  act  on  the  part  of  a  mere  elocution- 
master,  who  was  himself  sunk  in  difficulties. 

The  young  man,  it  must  be  said,  did  not  confine 
himself  to  the  mere  toping  clubs,  but  showed  a  laudable- 
ambition  to  figure  in  better  company.  As  we  have 
seen,  he  was  admitted  into  a  club  of  very  high  preten- 
sions, the  well-known  *'  Select  Society,"  which  has  j)er- 
haps  been  vaunted  beyond  its  merits.  In  17G1  it  set 
on  foot  an  extraordinary  project  for  altogether  refining 
the  Scotch  lano;uao-e,  so  that  it  should  become  like  the 
English  both  in  purity  and  pronunciation — in  other 
words,  for  abolishing  the  native  "  Doric."    Of  this  society- 


LIFE  AT  EDINBURGH.  37 

Lord  Aucliinleck  was  one  of  the  presidents.  Mr. 
♦Slieridan  gave  his  instructions  in  the  chapel  of  St.  Paul's, 
to  an  immense  audience  of  ladies  and  o-entlemen,  for 
four  weeks,  and  more  than  three  hundred  gentlemen  of 
the  first  rank  entered  their  names  on  his  list.  Every 
one  now  began  to  affect  extreme  nicety  of  pronuncia- 
tion in  their  ordinary  discourse.  "  Even  the  grave 
academic  doctors  gave  way  to  the  prevailing  fashion ; 
and  Dr.  Eobertson  was  so  enamoured  with  it,  that  he 
'  sported '  on  all  occasions  his  progress  in  speaking- 
English."  The  professor  having  proposed  to  publish 
his  lectures,  received  a  great  number  of  subscriptions, 
but  "the  long  interval  between  the  receiving  of  the 
subscription  money  and  the  publication" — thus  delicately 
was  the  charge  made — "  exposed  him  to  many  attacks." 
In  the  winter  of  1762,  Mallet,  or  Mallock,  had 
brought  out  a  parody  at  Drury  Lane,  called  "Elvira," 
one  of  the  "Tig  and  Tirry"  pieces  to  which  Garrick 
was  unaccountably  partial.  This  furnished  an  oppor- 
tunity for  the  exercise  of  the  satirical  powers  of  young 
Boswell  and  of  two  of  his  friends,  Captain  Erskiue  and 
Mr.  George  Dempster.  It  was  entitled  "  Critical  Stric- 
tures on  'Elvira,'"  and  the  authors  were  exceedingly 
merry  at  the  expense  of  their  countryman.* 

*  I  once  possessed  a  copy  of  this  exceedingly  scarce  produc- 
tion, of  which  I  believe  nob  another  could  now  be  found.  There 
is  no  copy  in  the  British  Museum,  or,  indeed,  in  any  library. 
This  copy  has  unluckily  been  lost,  but  in  a  note  to  my  "Life  of 
Garrick"  there  is  a  quotation  or  two  from  it.  In  this  rather 
flippant  production,  it  was  stated  that  evevj  scene  in  the  play 
■"  was  an  interview.  All  the  thoughts  were  poor  ;  and  they  were, 
moreover,  stolen.  Dryden  said  that  Ben  Jonson  was  everywhere 
to  be  traced  in  the  snow  of  the  ancients :  we  may  say  that  Mallock 
is  everywhere  to  be  ti'aced  in  the  puddle  of  the  moderns.  Instead 
of  beauties,  he  has  picked  out  what  is  despicable,  like  a  pickpocket 
who  dives  for  handkerchiefs,  not  for  gold,  and  contents  himself 
with  what  he  finds  in  our  great-coat  pockets,  without  attempting 


38  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

With  Captain  Andrew  Erskine,   a  young  officer  of 
literary  tastes,   quartered   in  Edinburgh,  he  contracted 
an    ardent   friendship.     He  was  of  the  KelKe  ^imily, 
and  belonged  to  the  71st  Regiment.     The  two  young 
men,  it  is  evident,  thought  themselves  brilliant  fellows 
enough,  with  much  power  of  repartee  and  knowledge 
of  life  on  town.     From  writing  verses  of  an  off-hand 
kind  which  figured   in  the  magazines,  they  presently 
began  to  think  they  were  actual  liter ateurs  and  critics  ; 
so  that,  after  exchanging  their  letters  for  about  a  year, 
they  determined  to  pubhsh  them,  with  their  names.    This 
volume  made  its  appearance  in  17 Go,  in  London, — issued, 
no  doubt,  at  their  own  expense.     The  letters  were  in  a 
forced  style,  with  an  affectation   of   being    "agreeable 
rattles,"    and  with   much  attempted   wit    and   banter. 
Boswelfs  is  perhaps  the  worse  performance  of  the  two ; 
Init  it  must   have  been  an  excess  of  youthful  vanity 
that  could  have  prompted  them  to  thrust  their  private 
confidences  on  the  public.     jMore  extraordinary  still  is 
it,  that  any  one  in  our  time  should  have  thought  of 
reprinting  these  crude  juvenile  efforts.* 

our  watch.  He  lias  introduced  a  rebellion  unparalleled  in  any 
history.  The  prince  enters  an  apartment  in  the  palace  with  a 
drawn  sAvord.  This  forms  a  rebellion.  The  king  enters  the  same 
apartment  without  a  drawn  sword.  This  quashes  the  rebellion. 
The  good  man  lets  his  rebellious  subjects  out  of  prison  to  chat 
with  them."  In  this  rattling,  vivacious  style  is  the  author  ridiculed. 
We  cannot,  of  course,  distinguish  Boswell's  share. 

*  Boswell  at  this  time  practised  his  pen  in  The  Scot's  Magazine, 
though  I  have  failed  to  trace  any  of  these  earlier  productions.  In 
his  warm-hearted,  natural  way,  "he  long  after  paid  a  tribute  to  this 
early  friend.  "  I  suppose  that  every  young  authour  has  had  the 
same  kind  of  feeling  for  the  magazine  or  periodical  publication 
which  has  first  entertained  him,  and  in  which  he  has  first  had  an 
opportunity  to  see  himself  in  print,  without  the  risk  of  exposing 
his  name.  I  myself  recollect  such  impressions  from  The  Scots 
Magazine,  which  was  begun  at  Edinburgh  in  the  year  1739,  and 
has  been  ever  conducted  with  judgement,  accuracy,  and  propriety. 
I  yet  cannot  help  thinking  of  it  with  an  affectionate  regard." 


LIFE  AT  EDINBURGH.  3& 

An  idea  of  the  sort  of  "  wit "  that  so  deliglited  the 
young  correspondents  may  be  gathered  from  the  story 

of  Lady  B ,  who  had  been  frightened  by  a  tnrkey- 

cock.  This  poorish  incident  convulsed  them  both  with 
merriment.  Mr,  Boswell  actually  prepared  an  ode  on^ 
the    adventure,  which   was   begged   and   borrowed   by 

friends.      "Lady  B 's   terror  for  the  turkey-cock,'^ 

wrote  Boswell,  "diverts  me  extremely.  Did  they  but 
come  to  an  engagement  how  noble  must  it  be  !  I  shall 
certainly  write  something  astonishing  upon  it."  In  a 
short  time  he  was  enabled  to  announce,  "  At   length, 

0  Erskine  !  Lady  B and  her  turkey-cock  are  sung 

in  strains  sublime  !  I  have  finished  an  ode.  It  is  one 
of  the  greatest  productions  of  human  nature.  I  am  sure 
that  my  ode  is  great.  Mr.  James  Bruce,  the  gardener, 
declares  that  it  is  quite  to  his  mind.  He  stood  by  my 
side  while  I  took  my  portrait  of  the  cock,  from  a  large 
one  which  struts  upon  the  green."  * 

Thus  early  we  see  Boswell's  lack  of  good  taste 
and  propriety  in  advertising  publicly  the  name  of  a 
lady  of  position,  and  exhibiting  her  ridiculously,  while 
fancying  he  was  paying  her  a  compliment.  His  friend 
sent  him,  in  return,  an  ode  on  "  Three  kittens,  who  were 
born  on  the  same  day  that  he  certainly  was." 

*  Then  follows  the  "  Ode  on  an  Engagement  between  the  Right 
Honourable  Lady  B and  a  Turkey  Cock  :  " — 

"  See  the  imperions  Turkey  Cock 

Of  size,  like  Ardennes'  rock. 
See  him  in  rage  advance, 

Like  Marechal  Turenne,  ; 

The  warlike  boast  of  France. 

***** 
Upon  her  natal  day 

Let  amorous  Boswell  tune  the  festive  lay. 
Let  him  be  plac'd  beside  her  at  the  board, 
Round  which  the  generous  sons  of  Kellie  sit, 
"Who  Avith  the  daughters  fair,  afford 
Sense,  beauty,  music,  wit." 


40  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

Nor  were  these  the  only  exercises  of  the  two  young 
men.  There  was  "  An  Ode  to  Tragedy,"  announced  as 
"Written  "by  a  gentleman  of  Scotland,"  a  description  of 
whom  he  sent  to  his  friend.  "  At  length  it  comes,  it 
comes  !  The  author  is  a  most  excellent  man.  He  is  of 
Jin  ancient  family  in  the  west  of  Scotland,  on  which  he 
values  himself  not  a  little.  His  parts  are  bright  and 
Ms  education  has  been  good.  He  is  fond  of  seeing 
much  of  the  world.  He  eats  of  every  good  dish, 
especially  apple-pie.  He  drinks  old  hock.  He  has  a 
very  fine  temper.  He  is  somewhat  of  a  humourist,  and 
a  little  tinctured  with  pride.  He  has  a  good  manly 
countenance,  and  he  owns  himself  to  be  amorous.  He 
has  infinite  vivacity,  yet  is  observed  at  times  to  have  a 
melancholy  cast.  He  is  rather  fat  than  lean,  rather 
short  than  tall,  rather  young  than  old.  His  shoes  are 
neatly  made,  and  he  never  wears  spectacles."  * 

It  is  amazing  to  think  of  his  printing  such  a  portrait 
of  himself.  To  add  to  the  mystification,  the  ode,  which 
was  written  by  "a  gentleman  of  Scotland"  was  "dedi- 
cated to  James  Boswell,  Esquire."  "  It  afterwards 
appeared,"  whites  James  Boswell,  Esquire,  himself,  in 
a  notice  prefixed  to  the  letters,  that  the  ode  "was 
written  by  Mr.  Boswell  himself,  "t 

Boswell's  ardour  for  publishing  at  this  early  period 

*  This  makes  about  the  fifth  oi'  sixtli  portrait  of  tlais  kind,  of 
Avliich  Boswell  drew  of  himself,  to  entertain  the  public. 

t  In  the  dedication  to  James  Boswell,  Esq.,  by  Boswell  him- 
self, were  these  passages — 

"  My  dear  Sir, — Be  that  as  it  may,  give  me  leave  to  thank  you 
for  your  particular  kindness  to  me,  and  chiefly  for  the  profound 
respect  with  which  you  have  always  treated  me."  ..."  The 
following  ode  which  awaits  your  acceptance  is  on  a  subject  grave 
and  solemn,  and  therefore  may  be  considered  by  many  people  not 
so  well  suited  to  your  volatile  disposition," — with  much  more  in  the 
eame  style. 


LIFE  AT  EDINBURGH.  41 

was  extraordinary.  He  liad  formed  a  close  friendshi}) 
with  Donaldson,  the  Edinburgh  bookseller  and  publisher, 
who  gave  him  dinners,  and  allowed  him  to  look  over 
his  publications  in  proof  or  manuscript,  wdiicli  the 
young  man  considered  amounted  to  being  his  pro- 
fessional "  reader."  He  was  also  constantly  issuing  odes 
and  poems,  whose  importance  he  strove  to  magnify.  In 
liis  exuberance,  our  hero  fancied  that  the  world  was 
engrossed  in  speculations  upon  him  and  his  doings. 
Thus  a  report  had  gone  round  that  he  was  to  be 
married!  "In  the  name  of  everything  that  is  upside- 
down,  what  could  the  people  mean  by  marrying  me ! 
If  they  had  boiled  me  into  jDortable  soup,  I  should  not 
have  been  greatly  surprised.  A  man  who  has  so  deeply 
pondered  on  the  wonders  daily  presented  to  us  on  view, 
and  who  has  experienced  so  many  vicissitudes  of  fortune 
as  I  have  done,  can  easily  make  allowance  for  stranger 
things  than  these,  but  I  own  this  matrimonial  system 
exceeds  my  comprehension." 

His  great  friend  often  warned  him  never  to  laugh 
at  himself,  but  without  effect.  Occasionally  the  viva- 
cious youth  sparkled  into  an  epigram ;  indeed,  through 
his  life  he  fancied  he  had  a  special  turn  for  writing  such 
<pips,  neatly  and  pointedly.     Here  was  one — 

"Your  wife  (cries  Jones)  I  think  is  queer, 
Brings  a  fresh  bantling  every  year. 
James,  let  me  tell  you,  I  have  wondered, 
That  yours  produced  not  a  hundred." 

Unintelligible  as  this  is,  it  no  doubt  passed  for 
*'  wit "  among  unlicensed  jesters  of  the  Parliament  Close, 
.and  the  gentlemen  of  the  Soaping  Club. 

Encouraged  by  the  success  of  one  mystification,  such 
as  it  was,  he  now  indulged  himself  in  another  quite 
.as  unmeaning.     Some  verses,  "Elegy  on  the  Death  of 


42  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

an  Amiable  Young  Lady,"  had  not  found  a  place  in  a 
miscellany  then  about  to  be  published,  and  it  occurred 
to  him  that  it  would  be  highly  humorous  to  publish  it 
sejDarately,  introducing  it  by  some  comic  letters  from 
his  friends  Erskine  and  George  Dempster,  also  with  one- 
from  himself,  ridiculing  the  composition  thus  :  "  I  can- 
not conclude  without  a  eulogium  upon  the  justice  and 
propriety  of  that  line,  when,  drawing  to  a  close,  he  ex- 
claims with  all  the  rapture  and  poetic  fury  of  a  Pythian 
priestess,  '  I  cease,  I  cease  the  empty  lay.'  I  am 
persuaded  no  mortal  can  read  tliis  without  a  conscious 
heartfelt  satisfaction."  "  They  were  sent  to  Mr: 
Donaldson  with  the  intention  to  be  published  in  the 
second  volume  of  his  poems,  which  will  appear  next 
winter,  but,  upon  being  examined  by  some  gentlemen, 
of  taste,  they  were  thought  to  have  so  much  merit,  that 
they  are  here  offered  to  the  public."  To  carry  on  the- 
jest,  letters  of  criticism  by  Mr.  George  Dempster, 
Captain  Erskine  and  Boswell  himself  were  prefixed,  full 
of  ironical  praises  of  such  lines  as,  "  Thou  numbered  her 
among  the  numerous  dead,"  and  "  Adieu,  adieu,  a  long, 
a  last  farewell." 

These  exercises,  jejune  as  they  were,  exhibited  at 
least  the  young  man's  overpowering  longing  to  "appear 
in  print."  They  furnished,  too,  one  more  of  the  puzzles 
connected  with  Boswell's  character ;  for  we  may  wonder 
how  the  author  of  these  affected  productions  could  ever 
have  become  the  sober,  judicious  author  of  the  "Life  of 
Johnson."  * 

*  As  this  early  friend,  Erskine,  now  disappears  from  the 
.scene,  I  may  quote  here  Dr.  Rogers'  account,  given  in  his  life  of 
Eoswell,  printed  for  the  Grampian  Chib.  "In  1764,  Erskine 
published  a  di'ama  entitled  '  ^he's  not  Him,  and  He's  not  Her ;  a 
Farce  in  Two  Acts,  as  it  is  performed  in  the  Theatre  in  the 
Canongate."     In    17r3    he   issued    'Town  Eclogues,'   a    poem   of 


LIFE  AT  EBIKBUIiOIL  43 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year  17G2,  we  find  that  our 
hero  had  once  more  contrived  to  visit  London.  He  had 
somewhat  artfully  persuaded  his  father  that  he  intended 
prosecuting  a  course  of  legal  study  there  ;  or  it  might 
be  that  he  hoped  to  find  some  means  of  carrying  out 
his  new  project  of  enteriug  the  (Guards.  It  is  curious  to 
think  of  "  Jamie  Boswell "  as  a  soldier,  and  of  what  wo 
might  have  lost  had  he  adopted  that  profession.  But  in 
other  ways,  it  would  have  been  disastrous  to  one  of  his 
character. 

This  scheme  he  had  been  ardently  pressing  on  his 
father,  and  in  April,  1762,  he  had  certainly  obtained 
some  promise  of  a  commission,  for  we  find  him  writing 
to   Temple  that  he  had  now   "  pretty  good   hopes  of 

twenty-two  quarto  pages,  iatended  '  to  expose  the  false  taste  for 

florid    description   which  prevails   in  modern  poetry.'     From  the 

71st,  Erskine  in  1763  exchanged  into  the  24th  Regiment,  in  which 

he  became  captain.     Retiring  from  the  army,  he  settled  at  l]din- 

bni'gh.     There  he  resided  after  1790  with  his  sister.  Lady  Colville, 

at  Drumsheugh,  near  the  Dean  Bridge.     He  was  an  extraordinary 

pedestrian,    and    walked   nearly  every  morning   to    Queensferry, 

about  ten  miles  distant,  where  he  breakfasted  at  Hall's  Inn.     He 

dispensed  with  attendance,  and  when  he  had  finished  his  repast, 

left  payment  under  a  plate.     He  was  of  a  tall,  portly  form,  and  to 

the  last  wore  gaiters  and  a  flapped  vest.     Though  satirical  Avith 

his  pen,  he  was  genial  and  humorous  in  conversation.     He  was  an 

early  admirer  and   occasional  correspondent  of   the  poet   Burns. 

Like  his  brother,  '  the  musical  Earl  of  Kellie,'  he  was  a  lover  of 

Scottish   melodies,    and    was   one   of   a   party   of   amateurs   who 

associated  with  Mr.  George  Thomson  in  designing  his  '  Collection 

of  Scottish  Airs.'     Several  songs  from  his  pen,  Burns,  in  a  letter 

to  Mr.    Thomson,  written  in  June,   1703,    described  as    'pretty,' 

adding,  'His  love-song  is  divine.'     The  composition  so  described,. 

beginning    'How  sweet  this   lone  vale,'  became  widely  pojiular; 

but  the  opening  stanza  only  was  composed  by  him.     His  habits 

were  regular,  but    he   indulged  occasionally  at    cards,   and  was 

partial  to  the  g-ame  of  whist.     Having  sustained  a  serious  loss  at 

his  favourite  j^astime  he,  in  September,  1793,  threw  himself  inta 

the    Foi"th,    and    perished.     In   a  letter  to    Mr.   Thomson,    dated  ^    / 

October,   179K  Burns  writes  that  the  tidings  of  Erskine's  death  ^ 

had  distressm  and  'scared  '  him." 


44  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

getting  into  the  Guards,  tliat  gay  scene  of  life  of  which 
I  have  been  so  long  and  so  violently  enamoured."  He 
no  doubt  counted  on  the  patronage  of  the  Duke  of  York. 

He  arrived  in  London  at  the  befT^inuino-  of  November, 
1762,  in  the  hope  of  finally  arranging  the  business.  He 
had  a  recommendation,  as  he  tells  us  in  his  memoir, 
to  the  worthy  Duke  of  Queensbury  ;  but  fancied  that 
there  was  a  secret  understandins;  with  his  father  that 
his  wishes  were  not  to  be  gratified.  At  this  season,  a 
change  is  to  be  noted  in  his  tastes  and  character.  A 
more  sensible  and  wholesome  tone  is  discernible,  with  a 
greater  sobriety  and  steadiness.  His  friend  Temple 
allowed  him,  for  a  small  rent,  the  use  of  his  chambers  in 
town.  But  he  had  to  share  these  quarters  with  Temple's 
brother,  a  youth  of  seventeen  wdio  was  looking  out  for 
a  commission.  This  young  fellow,  "  Bob,"  he  at  first 
welcomed  as  aojreeable.  But  he  soon  beo^an  to  find  him 
an  annoyance. 

"  His  genius  and  application,"  he  said,  "  consisted  in 
washing  his  face  and  brushing  liis  hat,  which  he  will 
•execute  in  a  few  hours ;  "  and  he  presently  declared — 
"  I  find  it  somewhat  inconvenient  to  have  anybody  in 
■chambers  with  me.  .  .  I  have  allowed  him  to  be  too 
free  with  me  ;  and  I  own  it  hurts  me  when  I  find  my 
folly  bringing  me  into  the  situation  of  being  upon  an 
•equality  with  if  not  below  the  young  man."  Later  he 
wrote  some  doggerel  on  the  youth  : — • 

"  Bob  Temple  lias  at  Sarum  been. 
And  all  the  pretty  girls  has  seen ; 
Bat  lie  came  back  in  the  machine 
Because  he  was  the  barber  ! 

"  From  Mother  Bowles  he  got  good  wine  ; 
He  licked  his  lips  and  called  it  fine  ; 
But  now  the  dog  at  Cliff's  must  dine, — 
And  is  not  that  the  barber  ?  " 


LIFE  AT  EDINB  I'll  GIL  45 

Presently  lie  began  to  borrow  gninea.s  and  make  himself 
noisy  and  generally  obnoxious,  on  which  Mr.  Boswell 
found  out  that  he  was  selfish,  and  of  a  heedless  disposi- 
tion. "  For  Bob  is  a  pretty,  genteel,  lively  boy  ;  but  you 
must  make  him  acquire  some  more  knowledge,  else  his 
stock  will  soon  be  exhausted.  I  find  it  somewhat  in- 
convenient to  have  anybody  in  chambers  with  me.  I 
Avish  you  had  him  down  at  Cambridge  with  you."  He 
at  last  fairly  turned  him  out.  But  the  general  sketch 
of  this  youth  is  excellent. 

Bos  well's  character  is  full  of  perplexing  turns  :  but 
one  of  these  puzzles  is  to  find  him  at  this  early  stage, 
while  on  pleasure  bent,  seeking  the  acquaintance  of  cele- 
brated and  accomplished  literary  men,  and  succeeding 
at  once.  There  is  one  key,  however,  which  opens  the 
most  exclusive  gates — a  certain  bonhomie  of  nature, 
which  furnishes  entertainment  and  pleases.  Society  in 
o-eneral  is  even  more  selfish  than  it  is  exclusive  :  and  in 
all  times  we  have  found  princes  and  nobles  willing  to 
receive  pleasant  good-humoured  persons,  who  accept 
baiting  and  badgering  with  good-humour,  and  who  are 
inclined  to  exhibit  their  character  without  restraint. 
Such,  I  fancy,  was  Boswell,  who  was  much  helped  by 
his  own  "facility  of  manners."  We  find  him  making 
acquaintances  of  all  kinds.  He  contrived  to  know  Gold- 
smith, Wilkes,  Bonnell  Thornton,  and  even  Churchill  ; 
he  was  showing  a  judicious  hospitality  in  little  parties, 
jriven  at  his  lodorino-s  and  taverns.  Before  he  became 
acquainted  with  Johnson  he  appears  to  have  been  about 
four  months  in  town,  having  arrived  at  the  close  of  the 
year  1762,  and  was  fairly  lance. 

YounsT  as  he  was,  Boswell  was  afflicted  with  that 
malady,  as  it  may  be  called,  which  hindered  him  through 
life,  and  which  is  an  excuse  for  many  failings  in  his 


46  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

diameter, — an  overpowering  depression,  and  sinking  of 
the  spirits.  His  friend  Temple,  wlio  was  in  town  after  the 
acquaintance  with  Johnson  had  been  made,  was  now  the 
recipient  of  these  sorrows  ;  and  no  doubt  Bos  well  found 
a  relief  in  imparting  to  him  all  his  dismal  feelings.  As 
he  tells  him,  "  Ketirement  has  always  sunk  my  spirits ; 
and  I  cannot  say  that  I  ever  had  any  uneasy  sensations 
upon  coming  to  town,  although  I  had  not  been  accus- 
tomed to  a  town  for  some  time.  What  is  remarkable  in 
my  case  is,  that  I  am  not  fond  of  much  society,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  choose  to  live  a  good  deal  by  myself. 
But  then,  in  London  you  can  either  have  or  want 
company,  just  as  you  please,  so  that  you  enjoy  perfect 
freedom.''  This  confession  that  society  and  dissipation 
drove  the  '"black  dog"  away,  while  it  was  chiefly  in 
the  "  retirement  "  {i.e.  the  stupidity)  of  the  country 
that  his  spirits  l)ecame  oppressed,  offers  a  not  very  un- 
common reason  for  depression. 

He  still,  however,  lingered  on  in  town,  in  very 
purposeless  fashion,  but  was  so  engrossed  with  its 
enjoyments  that  his  father  at  last  began  to  lose  patience. 
In  May  we  find  that  the  young  man  had  to  write  to  Sir 
David  Dalrymple,  to  intercede  with  his  ftither,  who 
threatened  to  disinherit  him.  "Tell  him  to  have 
patience  with  me  for  a  year  or  two,  and  I  may  be 
3vhat  he  pleases."*  This  Avas  a  serious  threat,  and  it 
brought  him  to  his  senses.  A  month  later  a  sort  of 
compromise  was  arranged,  and  his  father  decided  that 
he  should  go  over  to  Utrecht  and  study  the  civil  law — a 
plan  which  he  accepted,  to  the  gratification  of  the  judge, 
who  was  pleased  to  find  in  him  so  prudent  a  disposition. 
It  is  evident  that  Boswell  had  got  rather  "out  of  hand," 
but  was  now  sobered.     As  he  wrote  to  Sir  David — 

*  Rogers'  "  Memoir." 


.       LIFE  AT  EDINDUnGH.  47 

"  My  great  object  is  to  uttuin  a  proper  conduct  in 
life.  How  sad  it  will  be  if  I  turn  out  no  better  than  I 
;im !  I  have  mucli  vivacity,  wliicli  leads  me  to  dissipation 
iind  folly.  This  I  think  I  can  restrain.  But  I  will  be 
moderate,  and  not  aim  at  a  stiff  sageness  and  buckram 
correctness.  I  must,  however,  own  to  you  that  I  have 
at  bottom  a  melancholy  cast,  which  dissipation  relieves 
by  making  me  thoughtless,  and  therefore  an  easier  though 
ii  more  contemptible  animal.  I  dread  a  return  of  this 
malady.     I  am  always  apprehensive  of  it.''* 

But  when  this  arrauo-ement  was  made,   it  became 

<lifficult  to  fix  the  volatile  James  to  his  purpose.     "  I 

have  had  a  long  letter  from  my  father,"  lie  wrote  to 

Temple,  "full  of  affection  and  good  counsel.     Honest 

man !  he  is  now  very  happy  :   it  is  amazing  to  think 

how  much  he  has  had  at  heart  my  pursuing  the  road 

of  civil  life  ;  he  is  anxious  for  fear   I  should  fall   off' 

from  my  prudent  system,  and  return  to  my  dissipated, 

imsettled  way  of  thinking  ;  and,  in  order  to  make  him 

easy,  he  insists  on  having  my  solemn  promise   that  I 

will  persist,  etc.  .  .  .  My  dear  friend,  I  find  that  London 

must  be  the  place  where  I  shall  pass  a  great  jDart  of 

my  life,  if  I  wish  to  pass  it  with  satisfaction.     I  hope 

we  shall  spend  many  happy  years  there,  when  we  are 

both  settled  as  to  views  and  habits  of  living  ;  in  the 

meantime,    let    me   strive    to    acquire    steadiness    and 

constant   propriety  of  conduct,  without  which  we  can 

never  enjoy  what  we  fondly  hope."     But  with  all  these 

resolutions  he  was  still  reluctant  to  comply  with  his 

father's  wishes,  and  he  confided  to  a  friend  that  "he 

was  afraid  his  father  would  force  him  to  be  a  lawyer." 

These   little    compromises  between  actual  pleasure  and 

fine  theoretical  morality  are  highly  characteristic  of  this 

*  Ibid. 


48  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

curious  nature.  He  was,  however,  to  find  a  fresh  excuse 
for  further  delay,  in  the  contraction  of  that  important 
acquaintance  which  Avas  to  be  the  event  of  his  life,  and 
oive  him  his  title  to  fame. 

One  might  fairly  wonder,  looking  at  the  loose,  un- 
principled characters  with  whom  Boswell  contracted 
friendship  in  his  earlier  days,  that  he  did  not  meet 
with  utter  shipwreck,  and  have  gone,  as  it  is  called^ 
"altoo'ether  to  the  bad."  AVilkes  was  alone  sufficient 
to  do  the  mischief :  but  he  had  also  contracted  friend- 
ship with  a  number  of  shady  adventurers,  who  must 
have  only  thought  of  making  profit  out  of  a  young  man 
of  good  connection  and  prospects.  Among  these  were 
Gentleman,  Derrick,  Eoss  the  player,  and  his  too 
notorious  wife.  This  sort  of  company  had  an  oddity 
which  was  an  attraction  for  him. 

He  had  unluckily  fallen  in  with  a  countryman  of  his 
own,  George  Dempster,  a  man  of  extraordinary  ability, 
but  who  held  loose  opinions  which  he  appears  to  hav& 
learned  from  Hume.  These  he  enforced  with  much 
scofiing.  He  later  shocked  Dr.  Johnson,  who  made 
the  indignant  declaration,  "  that  he  had  not  met  for  a 
long  time  with  any  man  who  had  given  him  such  general- 
displeasure.  He  is  totally  confused  in  his  principles, 
and  wants  to  puzzle  other  people."  Demjister  succeeded 
in  puzzling  Boswell,  and  the  companionship  of  such  a 
man,  assisted  by  Mr.  Wilkes,  was  not  long  in  effecting  a 
reconversion.  No  one  who  has  not  studied  Wilkes's  life, 
or  has  gone  through  his  papers,  can  form  a  conception 
Avhat  a  depraved  being  he  was,  and  what  an  ingrained, 
almost  Satanic  corruption  infected  him.  Contact  with 
such  a  person  must  have  been  almost  fatal,  and,  in  spite 
of  his  naturally  good  impulses,  it  is  likely  that  Bosweli 
never  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  hateful  inffuence. 


(     49     ) 


CHAPTER  V. 

FIRST    INTRODUCTIOX    TO   JOHXSOX. 
17G3. 

In  a  pleasant  unafifected  passage,  which  bespeaks  his 
thoroughly  genuine  nature,  Boswell  introduces  the 
famiUar  incidents  of  his  first  introduction  to  Dr.  John- 
son. "  This  is,  to  me,"  he  says,  "  a  memorable  year ; 
for  in  it  I  had  the  happiness  to  obtain  the  acquaintance 
of  that  extraordinary  man  whose  memoirs  I  am  now 
writing ;  an  acquaintance  which  I  shall  ever  esteem  as 
one  of  the  most  fortunate  circumstances  in  my  life. 
Though  then  but  two  and  twenty,  I  had  for  several 
years  read  his  works  with  delight  and  instruction,  and 
had  the  highest  reverence  for  the  author,  which  had 
grown  up  in  my  fancy  into  a  kind  of  mysterious  venera- 
tion, by  figuring  to  myself  a  state  of  solemn  abstraction 
in  wdiich  I  supjDosed  him  to  live  in  the  immense 
metropolis  of  London."  He  had  been  promised  an  in- 
troduction by  both  Derrick  and  Sheridan ;  but  the 
former  "  never  found  an  opportunity  ;  "  which  made  the 
ardent  young  man  suspect  that  he  was  promising  what 
he  could  not  perform  :  while  Sheridan  had  unluckily 
quarrelled  with  Johnson.  In  this  state  of  things  Bos- 
well had  to  content  himself  with  the  assistance  of  a 
humbler   agent,    the   bookseller  Davies,   who    lived   in 

VOL.  I.  E 


50  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL, 

Russell    Street,    Coveiit    Garden,    at   wliat    is    now,    I 
believe,  a  wig-maker's  shop. 

"Tom"  Davies  was  rather  a  remarkable  character, 
and  his  life  offered  a  sort  of  adventurous  cast.  He  was 
actor,  bookseller,  and  writer,  and  has  left  some  works 
of  dramatic  criticism,  with  an  indifferent  but  entertain- 
ing life  of  Garrick.  He  was,  however,  peculiarly  sensi- 
tive and  touchy,  if  not  cjuarrelsome :  so  much  so  that 
a  single  line  in  Churchill's  "Rosciad"  literally  drove 
him  from  the  stage.  This  was  to  the  effect  that  "he 
mouthed  his  sentences  as  curs  mouth  a  bone."  The 
image  of  that  terrible  bruiser  sitting  in  the  pit  "  near 
the  spikes"  with  his  eye  upon  him,  agitated  him  with 
such  terror  that  he  could  not  endure  it,  and  he  fled  from 
the  stage.* 

The  scene  is  familiar,  almost  too  familiar  to  be  re- 
peated :  but  it  is  one  of  the  best  in  his  book. 

Davies,  who  was  good-natured,  had  often  invited  the 
young  man  to  tea,  but  the  doctor  failed  to  come  as  he 
had  promised.     The  persevering  Boswell,  however,  pre- 

*  It  is  cui'ious  that  so  little  is  known  of  this  rather  intd'esting 
specimen  of  the  bookseller.  "  I  once,"  says  Mr.  John  Taylor, 
"had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  Davies  act,  long  after  he  had  left 
the  stage,  when  a  benefit  was  given  to  him  at  Drury  Lane  Theatre ; 
lout  whether  during  the  management  of  Garrick,  I  do  not  recollect, 
though  I  believe  it  was  granted  by  him.  The  play  was  '  The  Way 
of  the  World,'  and  Davies  was  announced  in  the  part  of  Fainall. 
There  was  a  dull  gravity  in  his  acting,  and  his  voice  had  a 
rumbling  tone.  He  became  embarrassed,  and  I  believe  died  in  a 
state  of  insolvency.  His  '  very  pretty  wife,'  as  Churchill  calls  her, 
I  saw  wlieu  I  called  on  her  husband.  She  was  plain  but  neat  in 
her  attire,  and  in  face  and  person  exhibited  the  remains  of  beauty 
that  justified  the  poet's  panegyric.  8he  had  a  meek,  dejected  look, 
probably  resulting  from  the  situation  of  her  husband,  and  the 
recollections  of  better  days.  She  had  been  an  actress  of  respect- 
able but  not  distinguished  talents,  and  maintained  an  unimpeach- 
able character  through  life.  I  regret  to  add,  that,  after  all  her 
moral  and  professional  merits,  I  have  heard  she  ended  her  days  in 
a  workhouse  some  years  after  the  death  of  her  husband." 


FIBST  INTRODUCTION  TO  JOHNSON.  51 

sented  himself  repeatedly,  and  was  rewarded  for  Lis 
pains.  "At  last,  on  Monday  tlie  IGtli  of  May,  when  I 
was  sitting  in  Mr.  Davies's  back  parlour,*  after  having 
•drunk  tea  with  him  and  Mrs.  Davies,  Johnson  un- 
expectedly came  into  the  shop  ;  and  Mr.  Davies,  having 
perceived  him  through  the  glass-door  in  the  room  in 
Avhich  we  were  sitting,  advancing  towards  us, — he 
announced  his  awful  approach  to  me,  somewhat  in  the 
manner  of  an  actor  in  the  part  of  Horatio,  when  he 
addresses  Hamlet  on  the  appearance  of  his  father's 
ghost,  '  Look,  my  Lord,  it  comes.'  Mr.  Davies 
mentioned  my  name,  and  respectfully  introduced  me  to 
him.  I  was  much  agitated  ;  and  recollecting  his  pre- 
judice against  the  Scotch,  of  which  I  had  heard  much, 
I  said  to  Davies,  '  Don't  tell  where  I  come  from.' — 
'  From  Scotland,'  cried  Davies,  roguishly.  '  Mr. 
Johnson,'  said  I,  '  I  do  indeed  come  from  Scotland,  but 
I  cannot  help  it.'  But  however  that  might  be,  this 
speech  was  somewhat  unlucky ;  for  with  that  quickness 
of  wit  for  which  he  was  so  remarkable,  he  seized  the 
expression  '  come  from  Scotland,'  which  I  used  in  the 
sense  of  being  of  that  country ;  and,  as  if  I  had  said 
that  I  had  come  away  from  it,  or  left  it,  retorted,  '  That, 
Sir,  I  find,  is  what  a  very  great  many  of  your  country- 
men cannot  help.'  This  stroke  stunned  me  a  good 
deal ;  and  when  we  had  sat  down,  I  felt  myself  not  a 
little  embarrassed,  and  apprehensive  of  what  might 
come  next.  He  then  addressed  himself  to  Davies : 
'  What  do  you  think  of  Garrick  ?  He  has  refused  me 
an  order  for  the  play  for  Miss  AYilliams.'      Eager  to 

*  "No.  8,"  says  Boswell  unaffectedly,  "the  very  place  where  I 
was  fortunate  enough  to  be  introduced  to  the  illusti'ious  subject  of 
this  work.  ...  I  never  pass  it  without  feeling'  reverence  and 
regret."  It  was  then  just  opposite  to  ''  Tom's  Coffee  House,"  later 
the  "  Caledonian  Coffee  House." 


52  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

take  any  opening  to  get  into  conversation  with  liim,  I 
ventured  to  say,  '  0,  Sir,  I  cannot  think  Mr.  Garrick 
Avoukl  grudge  such  a  trifle  to  you.'  '  Sir,'  said  he, 
with  a  stern  look,  '  I  have  known  David  Garrick  longer 
than  you  have  done  :  and  I  know  no  right  you  have  to 
talk  to  me  on  the  subject.'  Perhaps  I  deserved  this 
check ;  for  it  was  rather  presumptuous  in  me,  an  entire 
stranger,  to  express  any  doubt  of  the  justice  of  his. 
animadversion  upon  his  old  acquaintance  and  pupil.  I 
now  felt  myself  much  mortified,  and  began  to  think 
that  the  hope  which  I  had  long  indulged  of  obtaining 
his  acquaintance  was  blasted.  And,  in  truth,  had  not 
my  ardour  been  uncommonly  strong,  and  my  resolu- 
tion uncommonly  persevering,  so  rough  a  reception 
mio-ht  have  deterred  me  for  ever  from  makina;  an^^ 
further  attempts.  Fortunately,  however,  I  remained 
upon  the  field  not  wholly  discomfited ;  and  was  soonj 
rewarded  by  hearing  some  of  his  conversation. 

"Davies  followed  me  to  the  door;  and  when  I  com- 
])lained  to  him  a  little  of  the  hard  blows  which  the  great 
man  had  given  me,  he  kindly  took  upon  him  to  console- 
nie  by  saying,  '  Don't  be  uneasy,  I  can  see  he  likes, 
you  very  well.' " 

By  this  pleasingly  described  scene  we  can  discover 
that  the  young  man  had  made  an  impression.  The 
great  man  could  not  but  have  been  flattered  at  the  awe- 
which  he  inspired,  and  must  have  been  pleased  at  hi>'5- 
own  smart  saying.  Murphy  used  to  describe  the  scene- 
with  much  humour  to  friends,  giving  particularly  an 
imitation  of  the  "  knock  down"  retort  as  to  the  comiuQ- 
from  Scotland.* 

*  Mr.  Murphy  always  described  tlie  meeting'  as  though  he  him- 
self had  witnessed  it.  "Upon  another  occasion,"  he  says,  "this 
writer  went  with  him  (Johnson)  into  the  shoj)  of  Davies  the  book- 


FIRST  INTRODUCTION  TO  JOHNSON  5'3- 

After  about  a  week's  interval  lie  ventured  to  call  on 
the  doctor,  and  was  well  received  ;  and,  again,  we  are 
struck  with  the  pleasant  readiness  of  tlie  young  visitor, 
and  his  knowledoje  of  human  nature — as  when  he  re- 
peated  to  the  doctor  Blair's  flattering  speech  of  him 
about  the  giant  being  in  his  den.  The  giant  pressed 
him  to  stay,  ^^'hen  he  rose  to  go,  shaking  him  cordially 
l)y  the  hand,  and  also  promised  to  spend  an  evening  at 
his  lodgings.  It  is  evident  he  was  pleased  with  the 
natural  frankness  of  his  visitor,  for  the  latter  says  that, 
in  looking  back,  he  was  astonished  at  his  own  freedom 
and  at  the  "  indul2;ence  "  with  wdiich  the  doctor  received 
it.  Boswell,  either  from  dissipation  or  carelessness,  now 
allowed  three  weeks  to  elapse  without  seeing  him. 
When  he  waited  on  him,  "  He  again  shook  me  by  the 
hand  at  parting,  and  asked  nie  why  I  did  not  come 
oftener  to  him.  Trusting  that  I  was  now  in  his  good 
graces,  I  answered  that  he  had  not  given  me  much 
encouragement,  and  reminded  him  of  the  check  I  had 
received  from  him  at  our  first  interview.     '  Poh,  poll  ! ' 

seller.  Uavies  came  running  to  liim,  almost  out  of  breath,  "with 
joy  :  '  The  Scots  gentleman  is  come,  sir  ;  his  principal  wish  is  to 
see  you;  he  is  now  in  the  back  parlour.'  '  Well,  well,  I'll  see  the 
g'entleman,'  said  Johnson.  He  walked  towards  the  room.  Mr. 
Boswell  was  the  person.  The  writer  followed  with  no  small 
curiosity."  He  then  quotes  Boswell's  saying  of  coming  from  Scot- 
land, as  though  it  began  the  conversation.  Boswell,  who  had  read 
this  passage,  disputes  its  accuracy.  Mr.  Murphy's  memory,  he 
•contended,  "  at  the  end  of  near  thirty  years  has  undoubtedly  deceived 
him,  and  he  supposes  himself  to  have  been  present  at  a  scene 
which,  he  has  probably  heard  inaccurately  described  by  others.  In 
my  note  taken  on  the  very  day,  in  which  I  am  confident  I  marked 
■everything  that  passed,  no  mention  is  made  of  this  gentleman  ; 
and  I  am  sure  that  I  should  not  liave  omitted  one  so  well  known 
to  the  literary  world."  It  will  be  noted,  however,  that  Boswell 
himself  cannot  recollect  whether  Murphy  was  present  or  not,  but 
■only  appeals  to  his  note.  It  may  have  been  that  Murphy  merely 
wished  to  have  a  peep  at  the  enthusiastic  Scots  gentleman,  and 
ihaving  satisfied  his  curiosity,  went  away. 


54  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

said  lie,  with  a  complacent  smile,  '  never  mind  these 
things.  Come  to  me  as  often  as  you  can.  I  shall  be 
glad  to  see  you.'"  Then  followed  meetings  at  eating- 
houses,  where  there  was  "  a  mode  of  dining,  or  rather 
of  being  fed,"  as  Boswell  puts  it  in  his  lively  fashion,  at 
various  taverns  and  at  the  Mitre.  The  doctor  was, 
indeed,  so  pleased  with  him,  that  he  called  out,  "  Give 
me  your  hand  ;  I  have  taken  a  liking  to  you."  It  is 
amusing  to  find  that  our  hero  made  no  confession  of  his 
lapse  into  Catholic  opinions — a  point  on  which  he  is 
silent  all  through  his  work.  Then  followed  more  meet- 
ings at  taverns  and  at  Bos  well's  lodgings,  from  which 
it  is  clear  the  doctor  found  entertainment  in  the  com- 
pany of  his  new  friend.  One  night,  or  morning  rather, 
they  met  near  Temple  Bar  about  one  in  the  morning, 
and  the  young  man  proposed  that  they  should  visit  the 
Mitre.  "  Sir,"  said  his  friend,  "  it  is  too  late ;  theij 
ivont  let  us  in.  But  I'll  go  with  you  another  night 
with  all  my  heart." 

Boswell  wrote  accounts  of  these  meetings  to  his 
friend  Temple,  adding  small  particulars  which  are  not 
found  in  his  printed  journal,  such  as  the  following  : — - 
"We  sat  (on  July  14th)  till  between  two  and  three. 
He  took  me  cordially  by  the  hand  and  said,  '  My  dear 
Boswell,  I  love  you  very  much.'  Now,  Temple,  can 
I  help  indulging  vanity  ? "  *     The  image  of  Johnson,  as 

*  Commentators  on  Boswell's  "Johnson"  may  compare  the 
report  in  the  text  with  that  given  in  the  letters.  Thus,  to  Temple  : 
"  Mr.  Johnson  was  in  vast  good  humour,  and  we  had  much  conver- 
sation. I  mentioned  Fresnoy  to  him,  hut  he  advised  me  not  to 
follow  a  plan,  and  he  declared  that  he  himself  never  followed  one 
above  two  days.  He  advised  me  to  read  just  as  inclination 
prompted  me,  which  alone,  he  said,  would  do  me  any  good ;  for 
I  had  better  go  into  company  than  read  a  set  task.  Let  us  study 
ever  so  much,  we  must  still  be  ignorant  of  a  good  deal.  Therefore 
the  question  is,  what  parts  of  science  do  we  want  to  know  ?     He 


FIB  ST  INTRODUCTION  TO  JOHNSON.  55 

it  is  sliown  to  us  at  this  time,  is  that  of  some  reverend 
sage  or  mentor,  and  this  idea  Boswell's  description  sug- 
gests. But  Johnson  was  then  only  fifty-four.  This 
shows  the  alteration  of  current  ideas  in  our  day,  when 
the  standard  of  age  has  been  completely  lowered.  No 
man  is  now  held  to  be  old  until  he  is  past  seventy. 
As  he  said,  "  I  love  the  young  dogs  of  this  age ;  they 
have  more  wit  and  conversation  than  we  had." 

Setting  apart  certain  follies  and  a  little  exuberance, 
it  must  be  said  there  is  much  sense  and  cleverness,  and 
much  to  admire,  in  BoswelFs  successful  entrance  into 
London  life.  Here  was  a  raw  youth  from  Scotland — 
shy,  unformed,  and  knowing  few,  save  a  dissipated  class 
of  his  own  countrymen.  He  arrives  in  1762,  when  but 
twenty-two  years  old.  And  we  find  that,  in  little  more 
than  two  months  from  his  introduction  to  Johnson,  he 
had  converted  the  rather  sturdy  sage  into  a  friend  for 
life.  As  we  read  these  conversations,  we  cannot  but 
be  struck  by  the  winning,  modest,  and  entertaining 
character  of  his  topics — his  pleasant  suggestions  and 
comments,  and  do  not  wonder  that  he  gained  upon  his 
hearer. 

To  his  friend  Sir  D.  Dalrymple,  Boswell  imparted 
his  satisfaction  at  having  made  this  new  acquaintance, 
and  the  comfort  and  profit  it  brought  him.  Following 
what  was  always  an  affectionate  instinct  in  his  character, 
he  took  care  to  show  to  Johnson  some  handsome  expres- 
sions of  praise  and  compliment  which  Sir  David  had 

said,  too,  that  idleness  was  a  distemper  which  I  ought  to  combat 
against,  and  that  I  should  prescribe  to  myself  five  hours  a  day,  and 
in  these  hours  gratify  whatever  literary  desires  may  spring  up. 
He  is  to  give  me  his  advice  as  to  what  books  I  should  take  with 
me  from  England.  I  told  him  that  the  'Rambler'  shall  accom- 
pany me  round  Europe,  and  so  be  a  Rambler  indeed  :  he  gave  me 
a  smile  of  complacency." 


56  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

written,  and  tlius  amiably  laid  the  foundation  of  that 
warm  regard  which  Johnson  always  entertained  for  the 
later  Lord  Hailes.  To  the  same  friend  Boswell  wrote, 
"  I  thank  God  that  I  have  got  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Johnson.  He  has  done  me  infinite  service.  He  has 
assisted  me  to  obtain  peace  of  mind  ;  he  has  assisted  me 
to  become  a  rational  Christian.  I  hope  I  shall  ever  re- 
main so.  .  .  .  He  advises  me  when  abroad  to  go  to  places 
where  there  is  most  to  be  seen  and  learnt.  He  is  not 
very  fond  of  the  notion  of  spending  a  whole  winter  in 
a  Dutch  town.  He  thinks  I  may  do  much  more  by 
private  study  than  by  attending  lectures.  He  would 
have  me  to  j)erambulate  (a  word  in  his  own  style)  Spain. 
He  says  a  man  might  see  a  good  deal  by  visiting  their 
inland  towns  and  universities.  He  also  advises  me  to 
visit  the  northern  kingdoms,  where  more  that  is  new  is 
to  be  seen  than  in  France  and  Italy,  but  he  is  not 
against  my  seeing  these  warmer  regions."  It  is  easy 
to  see  what  Boswell's  object  was  in  thus  ingeniously 
repeating  this  advice  to  travel,  instead  of  to  study. 

It  is  likely  that  Boswell's  religious  opinions,  which 
had  been  much  shaken,  were  brought  back  to  ortho- 
doxy by  his  conversations  with  the  doctor.  Sir  David, 
who  seems  to  have  been  his  true  friend,  had  been 
disturbed  as  to  his  orthodoxy,  but  the  young  man 
was  able  to  reassure  him:  "My  scej^ticism  was  not 
owing  to  thinking  wrong,  but  to  not  thinking  at  all. 
It  is  a  matter  of  great  moment  to  keep  a  sense  of  re- 
ligion constantly  impressed  upon  our  minds.  If  that 
divine  guest  does  not  occuj^y  part  of  the  space,  vain 
intruders  will ;  and  when  once  they  have  got  in,  it  is 
difficult  to  get  them  out  again." 

During  the  ten  weeks  of  this  agreeable  intercourse, 
the  new  friends  met  some  sixteen  times  ;  and  it  must 


FIRST  INTRODUCTION   TO   JOHNSON  57 

be  said  that  the  period  thus  described  is  a  pleasant  one, 
and  abounds  in  gay  conversation,  and  even  wit.  Bos- 
wcll  exerted  himself  much  to  amuse  the  doctor,  making 
up  parties  of  his  own  countrymen  and  others  for  his 
entertainment.* 

At  last  he  could  no  longer  protract  his  departure, 
and  had  to  seriously  prepare  for  his  voyage.  But  he 
was  sunk  in  dejection.  "  I  must  own  to  you,  my  dear 
friend,"  he  wrote  to  Temple,  "that  I  feel  a  good  deal  of 
uneasiness  at  the  thought  of  quitting  a  place  where  my 
affections  are  centred,  for  there  I  enjoy  most  happiness ; 
however,  I  am  determined  to  go  next  week.  I  hope 
I  shall  not  be  feeble-minded,  but  pluck  up  manly  reso- 
lution, and  consider  that  I  am  leaving  London  in  order 
to  see  the  world,  store  my  mind  with  more  ideas,  estab- 
lish a  proper  character,  and  then  return  to  the  metropolis 
much  happier,  and  more  qualified  for  a  solid  relish  of  its 
advantao-es."  And  ao-ain  :  "  1  have  now  fixed  to-morrow 
se'nnight,  Friday,  the  5th  of  August,  for  the  day  of  my 
departure ;  and  on  Saturday,  the  Gth,  I  shall  be  upon 
the  Channel.  Alas,  my  friend !  let  me  disclose  my 
weakness  to  you.  My  departure  fills  me  with  a  kind  of 
gloom  that  quite  overshadow^s  my  mind.  I  could  almost 
weep  to  think  of  leaving  dear  London  and  the  calm 
retirement  of  the  Inner  Temple.  I  am  now  launching 
into  the  wide  world,  and  am  to  be  long  at  a  distance 
from  my  dear  Temple,  whose  kind  and  amiable  counsel 

*  One  of  tliese  nortlierns  was  a  Dr.  Ogilvie,  who  had  wi-itten 
an  enormous  epic,  and  who  boasted  of  his  intimacy  with  Graj 
at  Cambridge.  The  poet,  however,  later  assured  Temple  that  he 
knew  no  such  person.  It  turned  out  that  Ogilvie  had  met  a  Mr. 
Gray  at  a  Cambridge  inn,  and  had  assumed  he  was  the  poet, 
whereas  he  was  only  the  local  apothecary  !  This  good  story  does 
not  figure  in  the  "Life."  ("Letters  to  Temple,"  p.  28.  Some- 
what spitefully  he  writes,  "  I  humbled  poor  'Gilvie  finely  with 
telHng  him  of  Gray  the  apothecary.") 


58  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

never  failed  to  soothe  my  dejected  mind.  Yon  may  see 
I  am  somewhat  melancholy ;  pray  comfort  me.  This 
is  very  effeminate  and  very  yonng,  but  I  cannot  help  it. 
My  time  is  fixed,  and  I  will  go  ;  I  have  taken  my  resolu- 
tion, and  you  shall  see  that  I  can  keep  to  it.  I  enclose 
you  a  friendly  dissertation,  which  you  may  read  at  your 
leisure ;  it  will  show  how  much  stronger  my  mind  was 
last  night  only.  I  am  just  going  to  meet  Mr.  Johnson 
at  the  Turk's  Head." 

This  was  very  natural  and  aifeetionate,  but  the 
sending  "  a  friendly  dissertation  "  was  a  curious  idea. 

The  3rd  of  August,  when  he  was  still  in  deep  dejec- 
tion, was  fixed  for  his  departure.  "  To-morrow  morning, 
at  five  o'clock,  I  set  out  upon  my  travels.  I  have  been 
a  great  deal  with  Mr.  Johnson  of  late,  and  (would  you 
believe  it  ?)  his  friendship  for  me  is  so  great  that  he 
insists  on  seeing  me  sail,  and  has  actually  taken  a  place 
in  the  coach  to  accompany  me  to  Harwich. 

"  I  am  quite  hurried  and  confused  to-night ;  however, 
I  shall  go  with  rational  and  agreeable  views  of  improve- 
ment, and  hope  to  return  much  better  than  when  I  went 
away." 

The  journey  to  Harwich  is  quite  dramatic.  "  On 
Friday,  August  5,  we  set  out  early  in  the  morning  in 
the  Harwich  stage-coach.  A  fat  elderly  gentlewoman, 
and  a  young  Dutchman,  seemed  the  most  inclined 
among  us  to  conversation.  At  the  inn  where  we  dined, 
the  gentlewoman  said  that  she  had  done  her  best  to 
educate  her  children  ;  and,  particularly,  that  she  had 
never  suffered  them  to  be  a  moment  idle.  Johnson. 
'  I  wish.  Madam,  you  would  educate  me  too  ;  for  I  have 
been  an  idle  fellow  all  my  life.'  '  I  am  sure,  Sir,  (said 
she),  you  have  not  been  idle.'  Johnson.  '  Nay,  Madam, 
it  is  very  true ;  and  that  gentleman  there,  (pointing  to 


Fin  ST  INTBODUCTION  TO  JOHNSON.  59 

me,)  lias  l)Gcn  idle.  He  Wcas  idle  at  Edinljurgli.  Ilif* 
father  sent  Lim  to  Glasgow,  where  he  coiitiimed  to  bo 
idle.  He  then  came  to  London,  where  he  has  been 
very  idle ;  and  now  he  is  going  to  Utrecht,  where  he 
will  be  as  idle  as  ever.'  1  asked  him  privately  how  ho 
could  expose  me  so.  Johxsox.  '  Poh,  poh  !  (said  he) 
they  knew  nothing  about  you,  and  will  think  of  it  no 
more.'  In  the  afternoon  the  gentlewoman  talked 
violently  against  the  Eoman  Catholicks,  and  of  the 
horrors  of  the  Inquisition.  To  the  utter  astonishment 
of  all  the  passengers  but  myself,  .who  knew  that  he 
could  talk  upon  any  side  of  a  question,  he  defended  the 
Inquisition.  .  .  .  Though  by  no  means  niggardly,  his 
attention  to  what  was  generally  right  was  so  minute, 
that,  having  observed  at  one  of  the  stages  that  I  osten- 
tatiously gave  a  shilling  to  the  coachman,  when  the 
custom  was  for  each  passenger  to  give  only  sixpence, 
he  took  me  aside  and  scolded  me,  saying  that  what 
I  had  done  would  make  the  coachman  dissatisfied  with 
all  the  rest  of  the  passengers,  who  gave  him  no  more 
than  his  due.     This  was  a  just  reprimand." 

They  stopped  for  the  night  at  Colchester,  a  town  for 
which  Johnson  had  a  veneration,  owing  to  its  having 
stood  a  siege  for  Charles  I.  Here  tliey  had  an  agreeable 
supper,  with  much  pleasant  talk.  "  He  flattered  me  with 
some  hopes  that  he  would,  in  the  course  of  the  foUowing-^ 
summer,  come  over  to  Holland,  and  accompany  me  in 
a  tour  throuo;h  the  Netherlands.  I  teased  him  with 
fanciful  apprehensions  of  unhappiness.  A  moth  having 
fluttered  round  the  candle,  and  burnt  itself,  he  laid  hold 
of  this  little  incident  to  admonish  me  ;  saying,  with  a  sly 
look,  and  in  a  solemn  but  a  quiet  tone,  '  That  creature 
Avas  its   own  tormentor,  and    I   believe  its    name  was 

BOSWELL.' 


60:  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

"  Next  day  we  got  to  Harwich,  to  dinner ;  and  my 
passage  in  the  packet-boat  to  Helvoetsluys  being  secured, 
iind  my  baggage  put  on  board,  we  dined  at  our  inn  by 
ourselves. 

"  We  went  and  looked  at  the  church,  and  having 
got  into  it,  and  walked  up  to  the  altar,  Johnson,  whose 
piety  was  constant  and  fervent,  sent  me  to  my  knees, 
saying,  'Now  that  you  are  going  to  leave  your  native 
country,  recommend  yourself  to  the  protection  of  your 
Creator  and  Eedeemer.'  " 

All  this  portion  of  the  narrative  is  picturesque,  and 
even  captivating  ;  the  style  is  limpid  and  unaffected. 
The  closing  passage  and  their  farewell  show  an  affec- 
tionate heart,  as  well  as  artistic  feeling.  "  My  reverend 
friend  walked  down  with  me  to  the  beach,  where  we 
embraced,  and  parted  with  tenderness,  and  engaged  to 
correspond  by  letters.  I  said,  '  I  hope,  Sir,  you  will  not 
forget  me  in  my  absence.'  Johnson.  '  Nay,  sir,  it  is 
more  likely  you  should  forget  me  than  that  I  should 
forget  you.'  As  the  vessel  ^^ut  out  to  sea,  I  kept  my 
eye  upon  him  for  a  considerable  time,  while  he  remained 
rolling  his  majestic  frame  in  his  usual  manner  ;  and  at 
last  I  perceived  him  walk  back  into  the  town,  and 
he  disappeared."  All  Boswell's  letters  he  kept,  and  he 
delivered  them  back,  sealed  up  in  bundles,  not  long 
before  his  death.  In  these  Bos  well  would  have  found 
useful  materials  for  that  account  of  his  travels  which  he 
ixt  one  time  meditated ;  but  they  apj^eared  to  have  been 
destroyed  with  other  papers  at  his  death,  by  his  incurious 
family.  From  his  great  friend,  in  spite  of  the  assur- 
ance that  he  would  not  forget  him,  he  seems  to  have 
received  but  two  or  three  letters  in  all  durinfj^  his  Ioug: 
absence. 


TRAVELS   ON   THE   CONTINENT.  Gl 


CHAPTER   YT. 

TRAVELS  ON  THE  COXTIXEXT — LETTERS  TO  WILKES. 

1763-4. 

Not  a  few  British  youths  were,  at  this  period,  sent  to 
Holland  for  their  education.  Wilkes,  Charles  Townshend, 
and  some  others  had  studied  at  Leyden  some  twenty 
years  before.  Bos  well  brought  with  him  a  letter  of  intro- 
duction from  Sir  David  Dalrymple  to  Count  Nassau,  in 
which  he  was  described  as  "  a  young  man  of  family  and 
merit ; "  his  father  introduced  him  to  the  celebrated 
Gronovius  of  Leyden,  whom  he  had  known  in  the  days 
of  his  youth ;  and  there  were  other  relations  "  of  the 
first  fashion  "  who  would  welcome  him  cordially  to  the 
Hague.  His  allowance  was  to  be  ^60  a  quarter,  which 
seems  handsome  enough  for  a  youth  at  a  college. 

At  Utrecht  it  seemed  likely  that  the  student  would 
justify  Johnson's  prophecy  in  the  coach,  of  idleness. 
It  would  seem  as  though  the  ingenious  youth  had  come 
to  the  University  to  find  excuses  for  travelling.  We 
have  only  a  few  notes  as  to  his  stay  in  the  Dutch 
country.  In  his  journal  we  find  various  anecdotes,  which 
he  set  down.  "  Boswell  show^ed  some  of  his  verses  to- 
a  German  professor,  who  understood  English.  The 
professor  was  highly  pleased  witii  them.  AVhen  he  laid 
them  down  Boswell  said,  '  I  wrote  some  of  them  last 
night.'     '  Ah/  said  the  professor,  '  I  did  not  know  they 


62  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

had  been  yours,  sir,  or  I  should  have  praised  them 
more.' "  Having  made  an  excursion  to  Leyden,  he  was 
permitted  to  make  a  lively  speech  at  the  expense  of 
ii  friend.  The  Hon.  Charles  Gordon  said  to  him  with 
affected  diffidence,  in  order  to  receive  a  compliment, 
'•'Mr.  Boswell,  I  would  willingly  come  and  see  you  for 
a  day  at  Utrecht,  but  I  am  afraid  I  should  tire  you." 
"  Sir,"  replied  Boswell,  "  I  defy  you  to  tire  me  for  one 
day." 

In  the  same  town,  "  he  put  up  at  the  Golden  Ball, 
and  was  shown  into  the  great  parlour,  which,  as  in  all 
the  inns  in  Holland,  is  a  public  room.  As  he  was  eating 
a  sober  bit  of  supper,  there  entered  three  roaring  West 
Indians,  followed  by  a  large  dog.  They  made  a  deal  of 
rude  noise.  The  waiter  thought  it  incumbent  upon  him 
to  make  an  apology  for  their  roughness.  '  Sir,'  said  he, 
*  they  are  very  good-natured  gentlemen.'  '  Yes,  yes,' 
said  Boswell,  '  I  see  they  are  very  good-natured  gentle- 
men, and,  in  my  opinion,  sir,  the  dog  seems  to  be  as 
good-natured  as  any  of  the  three.'  " 

He  appears  to  have  known  Sir  Joseph  Yorke,  the 
English  minister  at  the  Hao-ue,  for  he  describes  him  as 
being  "  so  anxious  lest  people  should  forget  that  he 
was  an  ambassador,  that  he  held  his  head  as  high  and 
spoke  as  little  as  possible.  As  in  the  infancy  of  paint- 
ing it  was  found  necessary  to  write  below  a  picture, 
'  This  is  a  cow,'  or  '  This  is  a  horse,'  so  from  the  mouth 
of  Sir  Joe  cometh  a  label  with  these  words,  '  I  am 
an  ambassador.' "  This  was  lively  for  a  young  man. 
But  here  he  made  acquaintance  with  a  clever  young- 
Dutch  lady.  Mademoiselle  de  Zuyl,  for  whom  he  con- 
ceived a  grande  passion,  and,  later,  was  engaged  to 
marry.  This  young  lady  seems  to  have  had  extra- 
ordinary cleverness  and  smartness  in  conversation ;  and 


TPiAVELS    ON   THE   CONTINENT.  63 

her  lover  said  of  her,  "  She  was  too  vivacious,  and 
crowded  her  hoii  mots  in  conversation,  so  that  one  had 
not  time  to  examine  them  one  by  one,  and  see  their 
beauties.  lie  said  she  used  to  make  people  run  through 
the  Vatican,  where  you  glance  over  a  number  of  fine 
pictures,  but  have  not  time  to  look  at  and  relish  any."  * 

We  have  other  glimpses  of  the  student.  At  the 
Hague  he  found  one  of  his  relations,  M.  Sommelsdyck, 
who  held  high  office  in  the  republic,  and  who  received 
him  with  all  the  affection  of  kindred.  "  As  worthy 
a,  man  as  lives,"  says  Boswell.  "  He  has  honoured  me 
with  his  correspondence  for  twenty  years."  When 
leaving  this  city,  he  tells  us,  "  Andrew  Stuart,  Nairne, 
Colonel  Scott,  and  Boswell  went  in  a  coach  to  Rotterdam. 
The  Dutch  coachman  was  so  heavy  a  blockhead  that 
Andrew  Stuart  took  the  reins  from  him  and  drove. 
A  mole,  somehow  or  other,  was  seen  upon  the  road. 
'  Well,'  said  Boswell,  '  when  Mr.  Andrew  Stuart  drove 
4X  Dutch  coach,  he  drove  so  hard  that  the  very  moles 
came  above  ground  to  look  at  him.' " 

At  Utrecht  he  was  pleased  to  hear  from  Mr.  Brown, 
minister  of  the  English  Church,  some  praise  of  his 
father,  this  gentleman  declaring  that  "  he  was  one  of 
the  great  beams  that  support  society."  This  clergy- 
man's   happy   image    of    celestial    enjoyment   will    be 

*  It  was  Mademoiselle  de  Zuyl  that  told  Boswell  the  capital 
story,  given  in  "the  Life,"  of  the  German  baron:  "j'apprens 
d'etre  vif."  "  A  dull  German  baron  had  got  amongst  the  English  at 
Geneva,  and,  being  highly  pleased  with  their  spirit,  wanted  to  imitate 
them.  One  day  an  Englishman  came  in  to  the  baron's  room,  and 
found  him  jumping  with  all  his  might  upon  the  chairs  and  down 
again,  so  that  he  was  all  in  a  sweat.  '  Mon  Dieu  !  Monsieur  le 
baron,'  dit-il,  '  que  faites-vous  ?  '  ('  Good  God !  baron,'  said  he, 
'what  are  you  about?')  'Monsieur,'  replied  the  baron,  wiping 
down  his  temples  with  a  handkerchief,  '  j'apprens  d'etre  vif '  ('  I  am 
learning  to  be  lively ')."  We  may  compare  this  loose  version  with 
its  later  artistic  shape. 


64  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

remembered  by  readers  of  Boswell :  ifc  made  a  deep 
impression  on  the  author  himself,  and  was  repeated 
by  him  to  the  sage.  He  noted  also  this  :  "  The  Dutch 
bourgeois  generally  wear  coats  and  wigs  of  prodigious 
size,  by  no  means  made  to  fit  them  ;  but  by  way  of 
so  much  cloth  and  so  much  hair,  Boswell  said,  '  Les 
HoUandois  portent  des  habits  et  cles  peruques  comme 
des  Hardes.'  " 

Utrecht  is  a  charming  old  town,  and  the  traveller 
takes  away  with  him  the  most  pleasing  memories  of  its 
noble  canal ;  and  the  view  of  the  cathedral  tower  bereft 
of  its  nave,  the  briojlit  red  houses  and  umbrao^eous 
streets.  Our  student,  however,  soon  tired  of  it  ;  and^ 
almost  before  he  had  completed  a  term,  was,  as  we  shall 
see,  travelling  about  the  country.  His  father  had 
designed  that  he  should  spend  two  years  of  study  at  the 
University.  He  must  have  been  confounded  to  learn 
that  his  son  was  touring  it  over  EurojDC.  "  A  pity," 
as  Johnson  was  to  say  of  him  later,  "  Boswell  has- 
not  better  bottom." 

We  find  him  presently  at  Berlin,  where  he  wns 
entertained  by  his  countryman,  Sir  Andrew  Mitchell. 
From  Berlin  he  wrote  to  his  father,  announcing  liis- 
plans  for  an  extended  tour,  and  begging  for  funds  to 
enable  him  to  visit  Switzerland  and  Italy.  Until  an 
answer  arrived,  he  amused  himself  by  an  excursion  to 
Hanover  and  Brunswick.  On  his  return,  at  the  end  of 
August,  he  found  a  severe  letter,  refusing  the  sanction 
and  requiring  his  return  to  Utrecht.  A  short  visit  tO' 
Paris  only  w^ould  be  allowed.  He  then  wrote  to  the 
ambassador,  who  was  aw\ay  at  Spa,  to  ask  his  inter- 
cession ;  and  a  most  characteristic  appeal  it  is. 

"Your  departure  is  a  good  deal  unlucky  for  me,, 
not  only  as  it  deprives  me  of  conversation  which  gave- 


TRAVELS    ON   THE   CONTINENT.  G5 

nic  uncommon  pleasure,  cancl  invariably  accustomed  nic 
to  rational  thinking  and  honourable  sentiment,  Ijut 
because  I  now  particularly  stand  in  need  of  your  pru- 
dent and  kind  counsel  with  respect  to  my  travels. 
I  have  had  another  letter  from  my  father,  in  which  he 
continues  of  opinion  that  travelling  is  of  very  little  use, 
and  may  do  a  great  deal  of  harm.  I  shall  not  repeat 
what  I  have  formerly  said  of  my  father's  particular 
character;  I  say  _2>'<^''^^*c?f/«^',  for  rarely  will  you  find 
a  man  of  so  excellent  a  frame  of  body,  and  so  noble 
a  mind  as  to  have  passed  through  life  with  uniform 
propriety  of  conduct.  For  my  own  part,  I  own  that 
I  am  not  such  a  favourite  of  nature.  Think  not  that 
1  intend  to  j^lecid  machinery,  and  escape  from  the  cen- 
sure due  to  the  faults  which  I  have  committed.  I  only 
would  have  you  consider  that  judgment  is  a  natural 
gift  as  well  as  imagination,  and  force  of  mind  is  in 
a  great  measure  independent  of  our  endeavours  :  think 
of  me  as  I  am,  and  pronounce  accordingly. 

"I  esteem  and  love  my  father,  and  I  am  determined 
to  do  what  is  in  my  power  to  make  him  easy  and  happy  ; 
but  you  will  allow  that  I  may  endeavour  to  make  him 
happy  and  at  the  same  time  not  be  too  hard  upon 
myself.  I  must  use  you  so  much  with  the  freedom  of 
a  friend  as  to  tell  you  that,  with  the  vivacity  which 
you  allowed  me,  I  have  a  melancholy  disposition.  To 
escape  from  the  gloom  of  dark  speculation,  I  have  made 
excursions  into  the  fields  of  amusement,  perhaps  of  folly. 
I  have  found  that  amusement  and  folly  are  beneath  me, 
and  that  without  some  laudable  pursuit  my  life  must  be 
insipid  and  wearisome.  I  therefore  took  the  resolution 
of  leaving  London,  and  settled  myself  for  the  winter  at 
Utrecht,  where  I  recovered  my  inclination  for  study  and 
rational  thinking.     T  then  laid  my  account  with  travel- 


VOL.  I. 


66  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

ling  for  a  couple  of  years,  but  I  found  my  father's  views 
to    be    entirely   different.      You    saw  the   letter   which 
I  wrote  him  from  this,  and  I  flatter  myself  that  you 
approved  of  it.     I  cannot  expect  his  answer  for  some 
weeks  ;  in  the  meantime  he  tells  me  that  he  would  not 
oppose  my  passing  another  winter  at  Utrecht,  so  that 
he  does  not  grudge  the  time  which  I  ask.     As  for  the 
money,  I  should  think  for  one  year  a  little  extraordinary 
expense  is  not  thrown  away,  when  it  is  also  to  be  con- 
sidered that  what  I  spend  now  I  shall  not  have  some 
years  hence.     My  father  seems  much  against  my  going 
to  Italy,  but  gives  me  leave  to  go  from  there  and  pass 
some  months  in  Paris.     I  own  that  the  words  of  the 
apostle  Paul,  '  I  must  see  Eome,'  are  strongly  borne  in 
upon  my  mind ;  it  w^ould  give  me  infinite  pleasure  ;  it 
would  give  me  talk  for  a  lifetime,  and  I  should  go  home 
to  Auchinleck  with  serene  contentment.     I  am  no  liber- 
tine, and  have  a  moral  certainty  of  suffering  no  harm  in 
Italy ;  I  can  also  assure  you  that  I  shall  be  as  moderate 
as  possible  in  my  expenses.     I  do  not  intend  to  travel  as 
Mi  Lord  Anglois,  but  merely  as  a  scholar  and  a  man 
of  elegant  curiosity,  and  I  am.  told  that  in  that  character 
I  may  live  in  Italy  very  reasonably.     I  obviate  your 
objection  of  my  being  obliged  to  live  like  others,  by 
assuring  you  that  I  have  none  of  that  second-rate  am- 
bition which  actuates  most  young  men  of  fortune  upon 
their   travels.     After   passing   four    months    on   classic 
ground,  I  would  come  through  France,  and  go  home,  as 
I  said  to  my  father,  uti  conviva  satur. 

"■  Now,  sir,  tell  me  fairly  if  I  am  unreasonable. 
Upon  my  honour,  I  cannot  think  that  I  am.  I  give  you 
word  that  my  father's  inclinations  shall  be  as  inviolable 
laws  to  his  son  ;  but  don't  you  think  that  I  may  just 
remonstrate  before  I  consider  an  act  as  passed  ?     Don't 


TRAVELS    ON   THE   CONTINENT.  G7 

you  tliiiik  that,  rather  than  go  home  contrary  to  what 
I  much  desire,  and  cannot  help  thinking  very  proper, — 
don't  you  think  it  worth  while  to  humour  me  so  far  as 
to  allow  me  my  year  and  a  reasonable  sum,  after  which 
I  return  clear  and  contented,  without  any  pretence  for 
my  stormy  disposition  to  murmur  at  ?  I  would  beg,  sir, 
that  you  would  write  to  my  father  your  opinion  as  to 
this  matter,  and  put  it  in  the  light  you  think  it  deserves. 
In  the  meantime  I  can  see  little  advantage  to  be  had  at 
Berlin.  I  shall,  however,  remain  here  a  fortnight,  after 
which  I  intend  passing  by  Mannheim,  and  one  or  two 
more  of  the  German  Courts,  to  Geneva ;  I  am  then  at 
the  point  from  which  I  may  either  steer  to  Italy  or  to 
France.  I  shall  see  Voltaire.  I  shall  also  see  Switzer- 
land and  Eousseau  ;  these  two  men  are  to  me  greater 
objects  than  most  statues  or  pictures.  I  take  this 
opportunity  to  assure  the  loved  and  respected  friend  of 
my  father  that  I  am  serenely  happy  at  having  obtained 
his  acquaintance.  I  would  hope  that  I  shall  not  be 
found  unworthy  of  his  regard,  and  I  wish  very  honestly 
for  an  opportunity  of  showing  my  real  esteem  for  such 
a  character  as  I  could  draw  to  any  one  else  but  to 
himself." 

His  father,  perhaps  because  he  found  it  useless  to 
resist,  gave  consent  to  the  Italian  tour  ;  on  which  the 
young  man  wrote  rather  pertly  in  answer  to  whole- 
some advice  sent  him  by  the  ambassador  :  "I  forgive 
you  this,  for  I  say  just  the  same  to  young  people 
when  I  advise.  To  enter  into  detail  of  the  little  cir- 
cumstances which  compose  the  felicity  of  another,  is 
what  a  man  of  any  genius  can  hardly  submit  to.  We 
therefore  give  a  good,  wdiolesome,  general  counsel ;  and 
he  who  consults  us  thinks  a  little,  and  then  endeavours 
to  take  his  own  way  as  well  as  he  can.     I  have,  how- 


()8  •    LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

ever,  the  happiness  to  inform  you  that  my  father  has 
consented  that  I  shall  go  to  Italy.  Upon  my  soul,  I 
am  grateful  to  the  most  worthy  of  men  :  it  will  be  hard 
if  we  are  not  well  together,  for  I  love  him  with  the 
strongest  affection.  If  I  find  that  I  cannot  succeed  in 
my  own  plans  in  such  a  way  as  to  convince  my  father 
that  I  am  in  the  right,  I  shall  do  my  utmost  to  fulfil 
the  plan,  beyond  which  he  cannot  think  to  look.  You 
may  suppose  what  my  ideas  are,  for  they  are  of  your 
old  acquaintances.  One  thing  I  am  sure  of,  and  by  the 
undisguised  honour  of  a  man  of  probity  I  swear,  shall 
chiefly  influence  me — a  regard  to  the  hap2Diness  of  him 
to  whom  I  owe  so  much.  Believe  me  I  have  a  soul." 
Then,  asking  his  interest  for  Temple's  brother — he  was 
writing  from  Geneva  on  Christmas  Day,  1764 — he 
addresses  Mr.  Mitchell  in  this  odd  style  :  "  You  are 
the  only  man  in  Britain,  except  my  Sovereign,  whom 
I  would  ask  a  favour  of.  I  have  written  to  Lady 
Northumberland ;  but  I  confess  I  have  little  confidence 
in  her.  ...  If  you  can  aid  me,  you  will  most  truly 
oblige  a  worthy  fellow ;  for  such  I  am.  I  know  you 
to  be  a  man  of  the  most  perfect  honour,"  etc. 

He  accordingly  set  ofi'  on  his  "grand  tour,"  and 
travelled  in  company  with  his  "  honoured  friend,"  Earl 
Marischal,  an  exiled  Jacobite,  then  in  service  of  the- 
King  of  Prussia.  On  arriving  at  a  fjxmous  Grerman 
town,  the  traveller  was  seized  with  a  fit  of  enthusiasm, 
and  wrote  a  rather  hysterical  letter  to  his  great  friend, 
at  home. 

*'  To  Mr.  Samuel  Johnson. 

"  My  ever  dear  and  ml'ch-eespected  Sir, — Youi 
know  my  solemn  enthusiasm  of  mind.  You  love  me 
for  it,  and  I  respect  myself  for  it,  because  in  so  far  I 


TRAVELS   ON  THE   CONTINENT.  69 

resemble  Mr.  Jolmson.  You  will  be  agreeably  surprised, 
wlien  you  learn  the  reason  of  my  writing  tins  letter.  J 
am  at  Wittemberg  in  Saxony.  I  am  in  the  old  church 
where  the  Reformation  was  first  preached,  and  where 
some  of  the  reformers  lie  interred.  I  cannot  resist  the 
serious  pleasure  of  writing  to  Mr.  Jolmson  from  the 
tomb  of  Melancthon.  ]\[y  paper  rests  upon  the  grave- 
stone of  that  great  and  good  man,  who  w\as  undoubtedly 
the  worthiest  of  all  the  reformers.  He  wished  to  reform 
abuses  which  had  been  introduced  into  the  Church ;  but 
had  no  private  resentment  to  gratify.  So  mild  was  he, 
that  when  his  aged  mother  consulted  him  with  anxiety 
on  the  perplexing  disputes  of  the  times,  he  advised  her 
'  to  keep  to  the  old  religion.'  At  this  tomb,  then,  my 
ever  dear  and  respected  friend  !  I  vow  to  thee  an  eternal 
attachment.  It  shall  be  my  study  to  do  what  I  can  to 
render  your  life  happy  :  and  if  you  die  before  me,  I 
shall  endeavour  to  do  honour  to  your  memory;  and, 
elevated  by  the  remembrance  of  you,  persist  in  noble 
piety.  May  God,  the  fiither  of  all  beings,  ever  bless 
you !  and  may  you  continue  to  love — Your  most 
affectionate  friend,  and  devoted  servant,  James  Boswell. 
"Sunday,  Sept.  30,  1764-." 

On  his  travels  he  showed  a  pleasant  liveliness,  and 
wit  even,  that  must  have  recommended  him  very 
agreeably  to  his  hosts.  Some  of  his  speeches  are 
piquant  enough.  Thus,  "  at  the  court  of  Saxe-Gotha 
there  were  two  ladies  of  honour,  Mesdemoiselles  de 
Rickslepen,  sisters,  very  pretty,  but  very  little.  Boswell 
said  to  a  baron  of  the  court,  '  Monsieur,  il  faut  les 
prendre  comme  des  alouettes,  par  la  demi-douzaine.'" 
And  again,  "  at  Charlottenburg,  while  the  entertainments 
were  there  on  account  of  the  betrothing  of  the  Princess 


TO  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSJ]^ELL. 

Elizabeth  of  Brunswick  to  the  Prince  of  Prussia ;  all  the 
ladies  and  gentlemen  pressed  eagerly  to  get  places  at 
the  windows  of  the  palace,  in  order  to  see  the  royal 
families  at  supper.  Bos  well  found  this  a  little  ridiculous, 
so  came  up  to  his  acquaintances  and  said,  '  Allons, 
allons,  je  vous  en  prie  voyons  la  scconde  table ;  je  vous 
assure  il  vaut  mieux  la  peine ;  ces  gens  mangent  plus 
que  les  autres  ? '  "  In  Italy,  when  he  saw  the  extreme 
profligacy  of  the  ladies,  he  said,  "  Italy  has  been  called 
the  garden  of  Europe,  I  think  it  is  the  Covent 
Garden  J^ 

When  he  visited  Baden  he  seems,  as  he  contrived 
everywhere,  to  have  got  into  the  best  company,  for  he 
reports  a  lively  speech  of  the  "grand  maitre"  of  a  mar- 
grave. "  Les  autres  princes,"  said  this  official  of  another 
margrave,  "  s'amuse  des  amusements ;  mais  ce  prince 
s'amuse  des  afiaires."  He  seems  indeed  to  have  recom- 
mended himself  everywhere  by  his  agreeable  manner 
and  good  spirits. 

He  waited  on  Voltaire  at  Ferney,  and  in  his  con- 
versation appears  to  have  acquitted  himself  judiciously 
enough ;  and  there  was  adroitness  in  the  fashion  he 
introduced  one  topic.  Johnson  had  spoken  with  con- 
tempt of  the  King  of  Prussia's  literary  performances : 
"  His  prose  is  poor  stuff.  He  writes  just  as  you  may 
suppose  Voltaire's  footboy  to  do,  who  has  been  his 
amanuensis  "  —  a  speech  which  he  repeated,  good- 
naturedly,  to  reconcile  him  somewhat  to  Johnson, 
whom  he,  in  affecting  the  English  mode  of  expression, 
had  previously  characterized  as  "  a  superstitious  dog."^ 
But  after  hearing  such  a  criticism  on  Frederick  the 
Great,  with  whom  he  was  then  on  bad  terms,  he 
exclaimed,  "  An  honest  fellow  !  "  This  supplies  us  with 
a  fair  specimen  of  one  of  Boswell's  little  arts  for  in- 


TBAVELS   ON   THE   CONTINENT.  71 

gratiating  himself  with  otliers.  lie  also  told  him  of 
his  plans  :  how  he  intended  visiting  Rousseau,  whom 
Voltaire  contemptuously  spoke  of  as  "  ce  garcon."  He 
announced  to  him  that  he  and  his  great  friend  intended 
making  an  excursion  to  the  Hebrides,  on  which  the 
philosopher  said,  "  You  do  not  require  me  to  go  with 
you  ?  "  to  which  the  young  man  replied  in  the  negative. 
"Then  I  am  very  well  content  that  you  should  go." 
Bos  well  did  not  perceive  the  sarcastic  tone  of  this 
speech,  which  seemed  to  imply  that  these  trivial  plans 
had  no  concern  with  him. 


f- 


(2  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

INTIMACY    WITH    WILKES. 
17C5. 

AVhen  our  traveller  arrived  at  Naples,  he  became  exceed- 
ingly intimate  with  a  personage  whose  proceedings  were 
attracting  the  attention  of  Europe — the  celebrated  Mr. 
Wilkes.  This  extraordinary  man  had  been  expelled 
from  Parliament,  outlawed,  put  under  a  ban,  and  was 
even  more  notorious  as  having  printed  the  most  shame- 
less and  shameful  book  ever  written  by  an  Englishman. 
The  thoughtless  Boswell  met  this  profligate  in  Rome,  no 
doubt  owing  his  introduction  to  Churchill,  and  seems 
to  have  entered  into  strict  alliance  with  him.  At  the 
same  time,  it  was  difficult  to  resist  the  attraction  of 
AVilkes's  good  nature,  perpetual  good  humour,  and  gaiete 
de  coeur.  Boswell's  strange  freedom  and  awkward  can- 
dour he  put  up  with  ;  and  through  his  whole  life  he  seems 
to  have  retained  a  genuine  ree;:ard  for  his  volatile  admirer. 
At  Rome,  too,  Mr.  Boswell  made  his  way  with  his 
usual  success,  though,  as  usual,  he  encountered  some 
rude  rebuffs.  Mr.  Lumisden,  his  countryman,  made  a 
smart  speech  at  his  expense.  "Boswell  had  a  travel- 
ling box  in  which  he  carried  his  hats  and  his  p)apers. 
He  was  saying  one  day,  '  What  connection,  now,  have 
they  together  ? '  Replied  Mr.  Lumisden,  '  They  have 
both  a  connection  with  your  head.'  " 


INTIMACY   WITH   WILKES.  75 

AVlien  AVilkcs  left,  Boswell  entered  on  a  correspond- 
once  with  him,  which  he  continued  in  his  own  free, 
iimusing  fashion,  exhibiting  his  changes  of  humour  and 
impulsiveness  in  a  very  natural  way.  Sometimes,  as  it 
will  be  seen  later,  he  was  so  carried  away  by  his  ardour 
as  to  speak  bluntly,  and  even  coarsely,  of  his  friend's 
political  opinions.  When  no  answer  reached  him — for 
Wilkes  was  notoriously  careless  in  answering  letters — 
Boswell  would  take  the  alarm,  and  become  rather  abject 
in  his  apologies.  At  other  times  he  had  a  knack  of 
making  awkward  allusions  to  painful  passages  in  AVilkes's 
career.  But  the  equanimity  of  Wilkes  was  always 
unruffled.* 

As  Boswell's  letters  to  him  have  never  been  pub- 
lished, they  are  here  given  at  length,  and  I  am  sure 
will  be  found  an  entertainment  by  the  reader. 

Of  their  intimacy  at  Naples,  the  only  record  is  a  few 
little  hastily  scribbled  scraps,  which  show^  that  the 
young  man  was  eager  to  convert  his  friend.  "  Will  you 
allow  me  to  come  down  to  you  a  moment.  Hero  of 
Liberty  ?  Cromwell  became  a  tyrant :  are  you  be- 
coming a  Grand  Sultan?"  And  again:  "...  IMight 
we  not  have  an  interview,  and  continue  the  conversation 
on  the  immateriality  of  the  soul  which  you  had  with 
my  countryman  Baxter,  many  years  ago,  at  Brussels  ? 

*  It  will  be  shown  further  on,  how  Boswell,  without  intending 
malice,  could  not  resist  a  good  stroke  at  the  expense  of  his 
friend.  He  once  uttered  an  admirable  mot,  for  which  we  may  be 
inclined  to  address  liini  as  Johnson  did  another  :  "  Say  no  more,  sir  ; 
Test  your  reputation  on  this."  The  conversation  had  been  about 
Wilkes  and  his  7Ujliness,  and  his  being  a  notorious  infidel :  "  Bos- 
well said  he  was  partial  as  to  07ie  article  :  for  he  had  too  much 
interest  to  deny  the  resurrection  of  the  body."  Very  profane, 
but  still  witty,  was  Wilkes's  speech  on  this  subject :  "  For  my  own 
share,  I  would  no  more  value  being  I'aised  with  the  same  body, 
than  being  raised  in  the  same  coat,  waistcoat,  and  breeches " 
("Boswelliana"). 


74  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

To  men  of  philosophical  minds  there  are  surely  moments 
in  which  they  set  aside  their  nation.  John  Wilkes, 
the  Whig  world  despises  this  sentiment ;  John  Wilkes, 
the  gay  profligate,  would  laugh  at  it ;  but  John  Wilkes, 
the  philosopher,  will  feel  it,  and  will  love  it." 

"  You  have  no  objection  to  sitting  up  a  little  late. 
Perhaps  you  may  come  to  me  to-night.  I  hope,  at  any 
rate,  you  will  come  with  me  to-morrow.  I  have  two 
favours  to  beg  of  you  :  one  that  your  letters  may  be 
signed  '  John  AVilkes  ; '  and  the  other,  that  they  may  be 
sealed  in  such  a  manner  that  I  may  not  tear  a  word  on 
opening  them.  My  address  is  now  '  Locanda  di  Carlo, 
Firenze.'     Write  soon." 

When  he  arrived  at  Rome,  we  find  an  entertaining 
series  of  letters  from  Boswell  to  his  friend,  which  I  shall 
now  place  before  the  reader. 

Mr.  Boswell  to  WilJces. 

"  Rome,  April  22,  1765. 

"Dear  Sir, — The  many  pleasant  hours  which  we 
past  together  at  Naples  shall  never  be  lost.  The  re- 
membrance of  them  shall  inspirit  this  gloomy  mind 
while  I  live.  Even  your  compliments  were  excellent, 
and  had  full  eflfect.  You  told  me  I  was  the  most  liberal 
man  you  had  ever  met  with,  a  citizen  of  the  world,  free 
from  the  prejudices  of  any  country,  who  would  be  liked 
in  France  as  much  as  in  Britain.  You  called  me  '  my 
Old  Lord  of  Scotland,'  and  you  said  I  looked  as  if  I  had 
a  thousand  men  at  my  back.  Had  it  been  your  chiefest 
interest  to  make  Boswell  satisfied  with  himself,  you 
could  not  have  done  it  better.  But  I  set  a  higher  value 
on  your  parting  words,  which  you  pronounced  with  such 
a  tone  that  I  almost  believed  you.     I  shall  never  forget 


INTIMACY   WITH   WILKES.  75 

your  civility  to  me.  You  are  engraven  in  my  heart. 
Was  you  really  in  earnest  ? 

"  I  wish  much  to  hear  how  you  live  now  you  are 
got  into  the  stately  Castle,  which  we  surveyed  with  so 
great  attention.  Yours  is,  indeed,  a  nohile  exilium. 
I  am  afraid  the  punishment  which  you  suffer  for  your 
evil  deeds  will  hardly  deter  others  from  doing  the  like. 
You  may  think  as  you  please,  but  I  have  no  small  pride 
in  being  able  to  write  to  you  with  this  gay  good  humour, 
for  I  do  in  my  conscience  l)elieve  you  to  be  an  enemy  to 
the  true  old  British  Constitution,  and  to  the  order  and 
happiness  of  society. 

"  That  is  to  say,  I  believe  you  to  be  a  very  Whig 
and  a  very  libertine.  But  philosophy  can  analyze 
human  nature,  and  from  every  man  of  parts  can  extract 
a  certain  quantity  of  good.  Dare  I  affirm  that  I  have 
found  cheerfulness,  knowledge,  wit,  and  generosity,  even 
in  Mr.  Wilkes  ?  I  suppose  few  crucibles  are  so  happily 
constructed  as  mine,  and  I  imagine  that  I  have  a  par- 
ticular talent  for  finding  the  gold  in  Honour's  compo- 
sition. Certain  it  is  that  the  process  must  be  performed 
very  delicately.  Some  days  ago  nothing  would  serve 
me  but  to  write  to  you  an  Heroic  Epistle  ;  and  thus- 
I  began — 

"  To  thee,  Gay  Wilkes,  tlio'  still  as  gay 
As  when  Dan  Armstrong  wrote  his  '  German  Day,' 
Another  Scot  now  sends  his  English  Whig, 
Spite  of  the  Whiggish  broils  which  mark  our  times, 
Spite  of  the  rude  North  Briton's  factious  rage, 
And  all  th'  abuse  of  thy  impaling  page. 

"  /n  magnis  vohtisse  sat  est.  In  the  Italian  Gazettes 
they  have  thought  proper  to  give  you  the  epithet  of 
//  Bruto  Inglese.  Bruto,  in  Italian,  may  signify  either 
'  Brutus '  or  '  ugly,'  and  you  must  know  it  is  disputed 
between    your  friends  and  your   enemies  whether  the 


76  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

epithet  oiiglit  to  be  translated  '  tlio  English  Brutus '  or 
'  the  Ugly  Englishman.'  Much  may  be  said  on  both 
sides.     Let  Mademoiselle  Corradini  determine. 

"  You  are  no  doubt  very  busy  preparing  your  ex- 
pected works  at  your  hours  of  leisure.  I  hope  you 
think  of  your  friends,  alive  and  dead.  Of  the  first,  it  is 
difficult  to  know  which  are  which.  Of  the  last,  I  only 
know  two.  Methinks  I  see  Churcliill  bouncino;  into  the 
regions  below,  making  even  Cerberus  dread  his  brawny 
force,  while  poor  Lloyd  is  lounging  on  the  fatal  shore 
for  want  of  a  halfpenny  to  pay  his  freight.  He  would 
not  want  it  lono-  could  he  who  relieved  him  from  the 
fleet  know  where  to  find  him.  I  have  received  from  our 
friend  Needham  some  philosophical  remarks  which  he 
•desires  may  be  communicated  to  you.  I  enclose  his 
letter,  but  beg  you  may  return  it  me. — I  am,  dear  Sir,  as 
much  yours  as  a  Scots  Royalist  can  be,  James  Boswell. 

"  Pray  write  me  at  Cafio  Inglese.     I  leave  this  soon." 

To  tJie  Same. 

"Rome,  May  17,  1765. 

"  Dear  Sir, — My  rogue,  or  a  Valet  de  Place,  has 
been  the  occasion  of  your  not  hearing  from  me  three 
days  sooner.  He  told  me  on  Friday  that  the  Naples 
post  did  not  go  out  till  Saturday  ;  and  on  Saturday 
I  learnt  that  it  goes  out  on  Tuesdays  and  Fridays. 
AVere  it  not  that  the  fellow  has  a  numerous  family, 
I  would  turn  him  off. 

"I  embrace  you  as  a  regular  correspondent;  and 
though  a  certain  weekly  political  tract  has  rendered  you, 
as  it  were,  hackneyed  in  punctuality,  I  doubt  not  to  be 
as  punctual  as  you.  You  have  advised  me  to  think  of 
being  a  Foreign  Minister,  You  shall  judge  how  I  can 
he  exact  in  my  despatches. 


INTIMACY   WITH    WILKES.  77 

"  I  am  not  displeased  to  find  you  can  be  melancholy. 
The  loss  of  Churchill  is  no  doubt  the  severest  affliction 
that  you  could  meet  with.  Pray  let  me  be  serious,  and 
advise  you  to  seek  consolation  from  tlie  immortality  of 
the  soul  which  your  departed  friend  strongly  defends  in 
his  'Duellist.'  The  arguments  for  that  noble  system 
which  indicates  the  Divine  justice  are  surely  strong,  and 
it  depends  on  ourselves  to  cultivate  elevating  hope.  It 
was  the  prospect  of  meeting  the  renowned  and  the 
worthy  of  former  ages  that  made  Cicero  say,  '  Si  in  hoc 
erro,  libertus  erro.'  I  heartily  wish  that  John  Wilkes, 
who  has  his  mind  so  well  furnished  with  classical  ideas, 
had  this  one  in  daily  remembrance. 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you  for  the  title  page  to  your 
History.  The  first  motto  is  excellent  for  a  furious 
Whig,  and  the  second  inimitably  adapted  to  the  years 
of  our  Sovereign's  reign.  I  doubt  not  but  you  will 
make  more  noise  with  the  four  first  years  of  King 
Georo-e  the  Third  than  Dean  Swift  has  done  with  the 
four  last  years  of  Queen  Anne. 

"As  to  your  evil  deeds  which  I  mentioned  in  my  last, 
I  beg  you  may  not  refute  the  charge.  Without  enter- 
ing into  any  long  discussion,  it  is  certain  that  you  did 
all  in  your  power  to  stir  up  jealousy  and  hatred 
between  the  southern  and  northern  inhabitants  of 
Britain,  and  that  you  treated  with  indecent  irony  our 
worthy  Monarch,  for  which  I  say  you  deserve  to  be 
beaten  with  many  stripes.  You  are  now,  it  is  true, 
connected  with  the  great  cause  of  general  warrants. 
But  for  this  you  have  reason  to  thank  the  blundering 
head  of  a  statesman,  and  cannot  claim  any  real  merit 
from  it ;  for  to  be  taken  up  without  a  name  was  surely 
no  part  of  your  plan. 

"  Since  you  praise  the  lines  which  I  sent  you,  and 


CO 


78  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

wish  I  would  go  on  with  the  poem,  I  shall  endeavour 
to  do  so ;  but  I  can  tell  you,  when  my  virtuous  Tory 
soul  grows  warm,  it  will  not  be  much  to  your  credit. 

"  In  the  course  of  our  correspondence,  you  shall 
have  the  various  schemes  which  I  form  for  getting 
tolerably  through  this  strange  existence.  If  you  would 
think  justly  of  me,  you  must  ever  remember  that  I 
have  a  melancholy  mind.  That  is  the  great  principle 
in  my  composition.     Farewell. — James  Boswell." 

To  tlic  Same. 

"Terni,  Jane  15,  1765. 

"  Dear  Sir,^ — -You  was  polite  enough  to  say  that  I 
might  have  you  for  a  regular  correspondent,  and  I  very 
gladly  accepted  of  your  offer.  I  wrote  to  you  several 
weeks  ago,  and  have  not  yet  had  an  answer.  Am  I  to 
impute  your  silence  to  the  dejection  of  a  forlorn  swain, 
whom  the  cruel  Corradini  has  left  to  weep  in  solitude  ; 
or  have  you  taken  amiss  the  strong  terms  in  which  I 
declared  my  disapprobation  of  your  conduct  ?  As  to 
the  first,  I  suppose  it  is  now  pretty  much  over.  And 
us  to  the  second,  you  know  I  always  talked  the  same 
language,  I  glory  in  being  an  enthusiast  for  my  King, 
for  my  religion,  and  I  scorn  the  least  appearance  of 
dissimulation.  As  the  gay  John  Wilkes,  you  are  most 
pleasing  to  me,  and  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  you 
often.  Let  serious  matters  be  out  of  the  question,  and 
you  and  I  can  perfectly  agree. 

"  I  have  formed  a  great  intimacy  with  my  Lord 
Mountstuart,  who  has  insisted  with  me  to  accompany 
him  in  the  rest  of  his  tour  of  Italy.  He  is  an  amiable 
young  nobleman,  and,  I  can  tell  you,  wants  not  the 
spirit  of  his  ancient  family.  You  see  me,  then,  in  my 
element.     My    liberal    disposition    will    ever    remain, 


INTIMACY   WITH   WILKES.  79 

should  I  even  live  in  the  heart  of  a  Court.  Gay  Wilkes, 
iidieu.  My  address  is  'Chez  M.  Jean  AVatson,  a  Venize.' 
- — James  Boswell." 

To  the  Same. 

"  July  13,  1765. 

"  Dear  Sir,^ — ^I  shall  certainly  go  to-morrow  morn- 
ing. I  have  a  favour  to  ask  of  you.  Pray  come  to  me 
lietween  eight  and  nine,  and  let  us  pass  this  evening 
together.  Perhaps  it  may  be  our  last.  I  don't  like  to 
think  so.  Order  your  supper.  I  shall  value  highly 
some  years  hence  the  hours  which  we  have  enjoyed  at 
Naples.  Your  Addison  shall  not  be  lifted.  Pray  don't 
refuse  me,  for  I  wish  much  to  take  leave  of  you  on 
friendly  terms.  You  say  you  have  two  or  three  souls. 
May  that  which  I  have  found  so  congenial  to  mine  live 
for  ever,  while  the  spirit  of  the  Whig  goeth  downwards. 

"  He  is  to  meet  me  at  Florence,  and  there  I  promise 
myself  a  singular  pleasure  in  the  perusal  of  a  pro- 
duction whose  rarity  alone  might  entitle  it  to  a  j^lace 
in  the  British  Museum.  You  are  seldom  in  a  solemn 
humour.  But  you  must  be  so  sometimes,  for  without 
l)eing  in  all  humours  it  is  impossible  to  know  human 
nature.  Would  I  had  one  half  of  your  good  humour, 
which  is  free  at  all  hours,  and  cannot  be  hurt  either  by 
outlawry  or  by  the  loss  of  a  mistress.  I  do  admire  your 
strength  of  mind,  and  look  upon  you  as  one  of  the 
vigorous  few  who  keep  up  the  true  manly  character  in 
this  effeminate  age.  With  what  a  philosoj^hical  patience 
do  you  bear  the  flight  of  your  beautiful  Bolognese  !  Yet 
I  can  suppose  you  sometimes  plaintive,  and  sometimes 
a  little  angry.  If  one  may  joke  upon  an  old  theme,  I 
would  ask  if  you  have  never  exclaimed  with  the  moun- 
tain swain,  '  Nee  sum  adeo  informis,  etc'     I  am  sorry 


80  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

th.at  Corradini  and  you  liave  differed,  and  I  shall  not  be 
displeased  to  bear  that  you   have  made  it  up   again. 
There  was  an  idle  report  that  she  bad  robbed  you.     I 
cannot  believe  it,  and  if  you  think  as  I  do,  you  will 
surely  be  generous  enough  to  contradict  it.     After  all, 
marriage  is  the  real   state    of  happiness.     Funeste   et 
amplius,   etc.,   can  apply  to    nothing  else.     What    we 
lawyers   call    the   consortium    communis    vitCB   is    the 
most  comfortable  of  all  ideas,  and  I  hope  I  shall  one 
day   tell   you    so   from    experience.      I   mean    not    to 
triumph  over  you.     Marriage  is  an  excellent  fruit  when 
ripe.     You  have  been  unlucky  enough  to  eat  it  green. 
Your  works  must  advance  very  fast.     You    will   like 
Lausanne  much,  as  the  society  there  is  very  easy  and 
agreeable.     At  Geneva  you  will  be  very  well  received. 
The  malcontents  will  flock    around   you,  and    borrow 
some  of  that  fire  which  has  blazed  with  such  violence. 
As  far  as  I  can  judge,  the  Geneva  opposition  is  better 
founded  than  that  in  a  certain  great  Kingdom.     I  own 
to  you  I    love  to  see   these  Eepublicans   at   variance 
among  themselves.     This,  I  fear,  you  will  call  a  plume 
from  the  wing  of  Johnson,     It  may  be  so.     My  vene- 
ration and  love  for  that  illustrious  philosopher  are  so 
great  that  I  cannot  promise  to  be  always  free  from  some 
imitation  of  him.     Could  my  feeble  mind  but  preserve 
a  faint  impression  of  Dr.  Johnson,  it  would  be  a  glory 
to  myself  and  a  benefit  to  mankind.     0  !  John  Wilkes  I 
Thou   gay,  learned,  and  ingenious    private  gentleman, 
thou  passionate  politician,  thou  thoughtless  infidel,  good 
without  principle  and  wicked  without  malevolence,  let 
Johnson  teach  thee  the  road  to  natural  virtue  and  noble 
felicity !     I  have  not  made  two  verses  this   last   twO' 
months.     I    have    the    most  inconstant  mind    in    the 
world.     At  times  I  can  hardly  help  becoming  a  man  of 


INTIMACY   WITH   WILKES.  8l 

considerable  parts,  but  at  other  times  I  insensibly  fall 
into  a  state  little  better  than  that  of  a  blockhead.  You 
have  praised  the  beginning  of  my  epistle  to  you,  and, 
1  think,  with  justice.  I  am  afraid  to  go  on  with  it  for 
fear  of  the  'fumum  et  fulgur.'  However,  if  you 
insist  upon  it,  I  shall  run  all  risqucs  to  entertain  you 
with  the  comj)leteness  of  my  small  design.  I  continue 
to  like  Lord  Mountstuart ;  my  intimacy  with  him  has 
brought  me  acquainted  with  the  character  of  Lord  Bute, 
whom  I  shall  ever  admire.  His  letters  to  his  son  prove 
him  to  be  a  man  of  the  most  generous  soul  and  most 
tender  heart.  1  am  sure  he  is  one  of  the  best  friends 
and  best  fathers  that  ever  lived.  As  a  statesman  I  am 
sure  his  intentions  were  grand  and  honourable.  What 
his  administration  has  been,  upon  my  honour  I  have  not 
yet  knowledge  enough,  nor  ability  enough,  to  judge. 
He  writes  with  an  eloquence  which  would  charm  you. 
Since  you  are  willing  enough  to  bear  my  honest 
freedom,  our  correspondence  shall  be  as  frequent  as  you 
please.  Let  us  correspond,  not  as  politicians,  but  as 
men  of  wit  and  humour,  and  let  us  mingle  as  much 
politics  in  our  letters  as  politicians  do  with  humour  in 
theirs.     Adieu,  dear  Sir. — James  Boswell." 

We  find  among  these  papers  some  lines,  no  doubt, 
the  poetical  efifusiou  referred  to  in  the  letters.  They 
have  but  little  merit — it  will  be  noted  that  the  lines 
have  often  to  be  eked  out  with  superfluous  words, — and 
it  may  have  been  Wilkes's  good  nature  that  prompted 
his  warm  praise. 


VOL.  I. 


82  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

''FOR   THE  NOTED   WILKES. 
"SPECIMEN   OF  PARLIAMENT:    A  POEM. 

"  See  both  incited  by  the  same  desire 
The  Laird  in  Scotland,  and  the  English  Squire. 
Her  sway  Ambition  spreads  from  south  to  north, 
On  banks  of  Severn,  and  on  banks  of  Forth. 
To  serve  my  country  half  my  lands  I'd  give  : 
Not  to  be  Member,  friends,  is  not  to  live. 
Who  at  his  Seat  contentedly  would  stay  ? 
Who  would  not  be  in  great  Preferment's  way  ? 
Who'd  grudge  the  money  at  elections  spent  ? 
A  place  is  not  too  dear  at  ten  per  cent. 

"  Let  Banker  Gascoigne  a  whole  ox  propose, 
And  'mongst  the  poor  its  roasted  quarter's  share ; 
Let  little  Gairlies  make  his  voters  swim 
In  tubs  of  ale,  till  judgment's  eyes  grow  dim. 
And  an  attorney,  versed  in  nice  chicane, 
Might  for  Tom  Thumb  the  maudlin  borough  gain. 
Let  other  Members  purchase  other  votes. 
Some  give  false  pi'omise,  some  false  notes. 
By  merit  only  let  my  Dempster  stand. 
And  still  be  numbei'ed  with  the  chosen  band. 

"  Some  in  the  House  must  be  exceeding  young. 
And  find  a  seat  ere  they  have  found  a  tongue, 
Like  Whistling  Tommy,  an  untoward  prig, 
With  hips  yet  sore  from  Eton's  smarting  twig. 
His  hands  hard  rubbing,  pinking  with  his  eyes, 
And  with  both  shoulders  struggling  to  be  wise. 
Are  cheesecakes  gratis  *  to  the  member  brought, 
'  And — and — and  '  f  may  they  whip  me  for  a  fault? 
Gods  !  is  Great  Britain  grown  a  school. 
Each  bench  a  form,  each  Act  a  grammar  school  ? 

"  Why  did  my  Dempster  beat  his  patriot  breast, 
Lest  Scottish  judges  one  week  more  should  rest? 
Why  the  high-horse  of  Independence  ride, 
And  cry,  '  Divide  the  House  !  I  say,  Divide  ! '  " 


*  Gratis,  for  he  is  a  narrow  dog. 

t  "  And — and — and  " — for  he  stutters. 


INTIMACY   WITH   WILKES.  83 

Such  is  tliis  interesting  series  of  natural,  outspoken 
communications,  which  gives  a  good  idea  of  Boswell's 
kindly  heart.  We  could,  however,  have  wished  that  he 
had  chosen  a  better  confidant. 

During  his  stay  at  Rome,  which  seems  to  have  been 
a  delightful  time  for  him,  he  made  acquaintance  with 
Lord  Mountstuart,  the  eldest  son  of  Lord  Bute,  a  young 
man  of  much  promise   and    cleverness,   who  was  then 
making   the    "grand    tour,"    "bear-led,"   by   Professor 
Mallet.     Dutens,  the  "  voyageur  qui  se  repose,"  describes 
his  "  easy  and  gentle  manners :  he  was  susceptible  of 
friendship,  and  sparing  no  pains  to  oblige  those  he  loved." 
It  was  natural,    therefore,    that    Boswell    should   have 
clung  to  a  person  of  so  useful  a  disposition.     He  con- 
stituted him  his  patron  and  JMsecenas,  and  calculated  on 
his  protection ;  but  only  to  be  beguiled,  as  he  was  in  so 
many  cases.     This  friend  might  have  assisted  him ;  for 
he  filled  many  high  posts,  and  became  ambassador  to 
Spain  later. 

The  young  nobleman  found  so  much  attraction  in  his 
company,  that  he  was  eager  to  have  him  as  a  travelling 
companion.  With  this  view  he  wrote  a  warm  and 
pressing  letter  to  Mr.  Mure,  of  Caldwell,  asking  him  to 
obtain  Lord  Auchinleck's  permission. 

Lord  Mountstuart  to  Mr.  Mure. 

"  Rome,  June  5,  1765. 
"  Dear  Mure, — Though  four  years  and  a  half  may 
have  obliterated  many  thiugs  in  the  mind  of  a  young 
man,  yet  they  have  not  made  me  forget  that  I  have 
a  true  friend  in  you,  and  that  you  would  do  everything 
in  your  power  to  serve  me.  To  be  very  open  with  you, 
though  I  promised  to  write  sometimes,  my  indolence  and 
aversion  to  it  would  always  have  hindered  me  had  not 


si  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

au  occasion  presented  itself  of  asking  tlic  following 
favour  of  you.  Having  got  acc[uaintecl  with  Mr.  Bos- 
well  liere  at  Eome,  our  acquaintance  soon  grew  into 
a  strong  intimacy,  so  much  so  that  I  have  desired  him 
to  go  on  with  me  in  my  tour  through  Italy  as  long  as 
it  w^ould  be  aOTeeable  to  him.  He  liked  the  scheme 
much,  as  well  as  Colonel  Edmonstone ;  but  says  he  is  so 
pressed  by  his  father  to  go  home,  that  he  durst  not  take 
such  a  step  without  his  leave ;  but  that  you,  being 
a  great  friend  of  my  Lord's,  might  easily  obtain  per- 
mission. 

"  Bosw^ell  is  an  excellent  lad,  full  of  spirit  and  noble 
sentiments,  and  (as  the  world  goes)  it  ought  to  be 
reckoned  a  fortunate  thing  for  him  going  with  me,  and, 
indeed,  fortunate  for  myself,  as  he  goes  on  in  the  same 
studies  that  I  do,  and,  if  possible,  rouses  one  up,  whether 
I  will  or  no.  He,  too,  has  the  advantage  of  being  in 
company  with  one  of  the  cleverest  men  in  Europe^ 
Mr.  Mallet,  the  professor  who  attends  me,  Now,  my 
dear  Mure,  I  hope  you  will  tell  all  this  to  his  father ; 
also  that  his  cousin,  the  Colonel,  wishes  it  much.  You 
may  tell  him,  too,  that  I  am  not  so  wild  a  man  as  I  am 
generally  supposed  to  be." 

What  result  was  produced  by  this  warm  and  pressing 
letter,  is  not  known  ;  but  it  would  appear  that  the 
permission  was  withheld.  He  had  now  more  ambitious 
plans  in  view,  and  was  filled  with  the  romantic  ideal  of 
Paoli,  the  deliverer  of  Corsica.  He  resolved  to  make 
his  way  to  the  island,  and  attach  himself  to  the  hero. 
For  a  young  man,  panting  to  be  known  and  talked  of,, 
this  was  no  bad  advertisement.  It  is  remarkable  with 
what  success  and  adroitness  he  carried  out  his  plan. 
He  always  took  particular  pains  to  advertise  his  pro- 
ceedings in  the  newspapers,  through  the  agency  of  short 


INTIMACY   WITH   WILKES.  85 

paragraphs,  which  were  written  by  himself,  though  taking 
the  form  of  an  independent  communication.  Through 
his  hfc  he  maintained  a  connection  with  newspapers 
find  magazines,  such  as  The  Scots  Magazine,  The 
London,  and  the  London  Chronicle.  His  style  can  be 
recognized  without  difficulty.  He  took  care  to  send 
home  special  accounts,  which  conveyed  the  idea  that 
his  progress  was  exciting  mysterious  wonder  and  specu- 
lation. 

"Rome,  December  5,  1766. — I  can,  however,  inform 
you  for  certain  that  a  British  subject  has  been  there 
(in  Corsica).  About  the  middle  of  October  Mr.  Boswell, 
a  Scots  gentleman,  upon  his  travels  over  Europe,  sailed 
from  the  port  of  Leghorn  for  the  island  of  Corsica  with 
a  very  ample  and  particular  passport  from  Commodore 
Harrison.  He  landed  on  Cape  Corso,  and  went  about 
a  hundred  miles  into  the  territories  of  the  malcontents, 
^s  they  were  formerly  called,  but  must  now  have  the 
title  of  the  nation.  He  found  Sio-nor  de  Paoli  in  one 
of  the  provinces  on  the  other  side  of  the  great  range  of 
hills.  He  no  doubt  presented  to  the  chief  very  suffi- 
•cient  recommendations,  for  he  was  received  by  him  with 
«very  mark  of  distinction,  was  lodged  in  a  palace  of  the 
noble  family  of  Colonna,  and,  whenever  he  chose  to 
make  a  little  tour,  was  attended  by  a  detachment  of 
guards.  He  passed  ten  or  twelve  days  with  General  de 
Paoli,  dined  and  supped  with  him  constantly,  and  was 
every  day  in  private  conference  with  him  for  some 
hours.  Mr.  Boswell  o-ave  out  at  Leo-horn  that  he  went 
to  Corsica  merely  for  curiosity,  but  the  politicians  of 
Italy  think  they  can  see  more  important  reasons  for  his 
visiting  the  island.  Tlie  Genoese  have  been  not  a  little 
alarmed  by  it :  having  received  very  early  intimation  of 
Mr.  Bos  well's  having  sailed  from  Leghorn,  they  procured 


86  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

constant  intelligence  of  liis  motions  during  the  whole 
time  of  his  stay  in  the  island  ;  but  all  the  intelligence 
sent  them  only  served  to  throw  them  into  greater  per- 
plexity. What  appears  most  difficult  to  be  explained  is 
Mr.  Bos  well's  having  sailed  almost  before  anybody  knew 
of  his  intention.  He  carried  all  the  appearance  of 
a  gentleman  travelling  for  his  amusement,  passed  some 
time  with  the  Count  de  Marboeuf,  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  French  troops  in  Corsica,  and  afterwards 
went  to  Genoa,  where  he  stayed  about  a  week,  and 
seemed  free  and  unconcerned  as  if  he  had  nothing  to  do 
with  state  disputes.  People  in  this  part  of  the  world 
are  curious  to  know  what  will  really  be  the  consequence 
of  Mr.  Bos  well's  tour  in  Corsica." 

And  again,  in  another  chronicle  :  "  London,  January 
11. — AVhen  Mr.  Boswell  was  presented  to  the  General 
de  Paoli,  he  paid  this  compliment  to  the  Corsicans  : 
'  Sir,  I  am  upon  my  travels,  and  have  lately  visited 
Eome.  I  am  come  from  seeino:  the  ruins  of  one  brave 
and  free  people  ;  I  now  see  the  rise  of  another.'"  * 

*  In  his  little  Memoir,  also,  he  thus  rather  boastfully  extols  his 
courage : — 

"  But  Mr.  Boswell's  travels  were  principally  marked  by  his 
visiting  the  island  of  Corsica,  the  internal  part  of  which  no  native 
of  Britain  had  ever  seen.  Undismayed  by  the  reports  of  danger 
which  were  circulated,  he  penetrated  into  its  wildest  districts,  and 
Avas  amply  rewarded  by  the  knowledge  which  he  acquired,  and  by 
obtaining  the  acquaintance  of  its  illustrious  Chief,  General  Paoli. 
Miss  Aitken,  now  Mrs.  Barbauld,  has  thus  described  Mr.  Boswell's 
singular  happiness,  in  her  beautiful  poem,  entitled,  '  Corsica." 
After  descanting  on  the  blessings  of  liberty,  she  proceeds — 

Such  were  the  working  thoughts  which  swell'd  the  breast 

Of  generous  Boswell,  when  with  nobler  aim 

And  views  beyond  the  narrow  beaten  track 

By  trivial  fancy  trode,  he  turn'd  his  course 

From  polish'd  Gallia's  soft  delicious  vales. 

From  the  grey  i-eliques  of  imperial  Rome, 

From  her  long  galleries  of  laurel'd  stone. 


INTIMACY   WITH   WILKES.  87 

This,  in  his  own  phrase,  was  "keeping  it  warm." 

Her  diisel'd  heroes  and  lier  marble  Gods 
(Whose  dumb  majestic  pomp  yet  awes  the  world), 
To  animated  forms  of  patriot  zeal ; 
Warm  in  the  living  majesty  of  virtue  ; 
Elate  with  feai-less  spirit ;  firm  ;  resolv'd  ; 
By  fortune  unsubdued  ;  unaw'd  by  power.' 

"  On  the  same  account  he  was  celebrated  by  the  late  Edward 
Burnaby  Green,  Esq.,  in  '  Corsica,  an  Ode ; '  and  by  Capel  Lofft, 
Esq.,  in  his  'Praises  of  Poetry.'  " 


88  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 


CHAPTER  A^II. 

THE   TOUR   IN    CORSICA. 
1765. 

Many  have,  no  doubt,  wondered  what  could  have 
brought  our  Utrecht  student  into  connection  with  the 
little  island  of  Corsica.  At  this  distance  of  time 
"the  brave  Paoli"  and  Corsica  Boswell  seem  quite  in 
harmony ;  but  he  very  frankly  tells  us  that  he  "wished 
for  something  more  than  just  the  common  course  of 
what  is  called  the  'tour  of  Europe,'  and  Corsica  occurred 
to  me  as  a  place  which  nobody  else  had  seen." 

During  a  portion  of  his  German  travels,  he  had 
accompanied  Lord  Marischal,  an  old  Jacobite,  who  was 
governor  of  Neuchatel.  As  this  place  was  only  a  few 
leagues  from  Mortier,  where  Rousseau  was  living,  it  was 
natural  that  the  earl  should  give  his  friend  a  letter  to 
the  philosopher.  Lord  Marischal,  in  his  curious  letter, 
described  Boswell  as  having  an  excellent  disposition, 
though  full  of  visionary  ideas,  as  having  seen  spirits,  etc. 
"  I  only  hope  he  will  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  people 
who  will  turn  his  head."  *  This  odd  recommendation 
was  hardly  likely  to  impress  Rousseau.  He,  how- 
ever, welcomed  Boswell  courteously  ;  the  young  man, 
having  told  him   his  scheme,  insisted  that  he  should 

*  "  Strekeisen,"  ii. 


THE   TOUR   IN   CORSICA.  89 

give  liim  a  letter  of  introduction  to  Paoli,  when  he 
returned  from  liis  visit  to  Kome.  "The  wild  philo- 
sopher," as  Boswell  calls  him,  promised  to  do  so. 

The  expedition  required  an  amount  of  enterprise 
and  energy  which  we  could  scarcely  have  expected  in 
one  of  his  disposition.  The  result,  as  it  turned  out, 
was  perfectly  successful ;  secured  him  the  prestige 
which  he  was  so  longing  for ;  and  launched  him  with 
eclat  in  London  societv. 

From  Rome  he  wrote  to  Rousseau,  reminding  him 
of  his  promise,  adding  that,  if  he  refused  him,  he  "  should 
certainly  go  without  it,  and  be  probably  hanged  for  a 
spy."  In  May  he  received  a  reply,  in  which  the  philo- 
sopher carelessly  put  the  request  aside  with  some  com- 
pliments, telling  him  that  it  would  be  enough  to  show 
his  letter  to  the  general,  and  that  he  needed  no 
recommendation  but  his  own  merits.  He  gave  him  the 
name  of  a  gentleman  at  Bastia,  to  whom  he  was  also  to 
show  the  letter. 

It  would  appear  that  there  was  some  reason  for 
this  guarded  recommendation ;  for  Rousseau,  though 
receiving  emissaries  from  Buttafuoco,  for  whom  this 
letter  was  intended,  was  favouring  an  intrigue  by 
which  the  island  was  to  be  handed  over  to  the  French. 
His  visitor,  at  that  time  well  inclined  to  make  him 
a  hero,  later  joined  in  the  general  charivari  against 
him.  "  When  he  was  at  a  distance,"  he  wrote,  "  his 
singular  eloquence  filled  our  minds  with  high  ideas  of 
the  wild  philosopher.  When  he  came  into  the  walks 
of  men,  we  know,  alas  !    how  those  ideas  sufi'ered." 

We  must  admire  the  pleasant  good  spirits  and 
vivacity  with  which  the  young  man  undertook  his 
expedition.  The  account  he  gave  of  his  travels  is  a 
most    agreeable    one,    remarkable    for    its    unaffected 


90  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

candour  and  graphic  power.  Every  reader  must  be 
attracted  by  it,  as  it  is  higlily  dramatic,  from  the 
revelation  of  his  own  thoughts  and  feelings,  expressed 
in  the  most  natural  way.  All  this  was  novel  at  the 
time,  and  contrasted  with  the  formal  and  pedantic  style 
of  the  ordinary  book  of  travels. 

At  Sienna  he  had  warning  of  the  dangers  of  the 
expedition,  but  was  furnished  by  Count  Eivarola  with 
letters  and  much  good  advice  :  and  he  received  a  pass- 
port from  "  Commodore  Harrison  of  the  British  Navy." 
He  embarked  on  board  an  Italian  vessel  bound  for  Cape 
Corso,  and,  after  tw^o  days'  sailing,  landed.  He  was 
"passed  on"  to  various  hospitable  persons,  and  enter- 
tained at  their  houses.  The  excitable  traveller,  fancy- 
ing he  was  at  an  inn,  would  sometimes  call  loudly  for 
various  things,  and  was  good-humouredly  rebuked  by 
one  of  his  hosts:  "One  thing  after  another,  sir!"  He 
at  last  arrived  at  Corte,  whence  he  was  to  set  out,  over 
the  hills,  for  Paoli's  quarters  at  Solacaro,  where  he  was 
received  by  the  general  in  an  odd  and  suspicious  way. 
As  he  presented  his  letters  of  introduction,  the  general 
shaded  his  countenance  carefully.  "  For  ten  minutes 
he  walked  backwards  and  forwards  through  the  room, 
hardly  saying  a  word,  while  he  looked  at  me  with  a 
steadfast,  keen,  and  persevering  eye,  as  if  he  searched 
my  very  soul."  No  wonder  he  found  the  interview  for 
a  while  "  very  severe  upon  him."  This  restraint,  how- 
ever, later  passed  off;  and  he  was  invited  to  dine,  and 
entertained  handsomely. 

The  traveller,  while  giving  his  account  of  his  recep- 
tion and  of  the  fashion  in  which  he  impressed  the 
general,  scarcely  dreamed  of  how  he  had  really  affected 
the  latter.  Long  after,  when  in  England,  Paoli  enter- 
tained a  party  at  Streatham  with  a  rather  ludicrous 


TEE   TOUR   IN  CORSICA.  91 

account  of  his  "fussy"  and  importunate  guest.  "He 
came  to  my  country  sudden,  and  be  fetched  me  some 
letters  of  recommending  him.  But  I  was  of  the  belief 
he  might,  in  the  verity,  be  no  other  person  but  one 
impostor.  And  I  supposed,  in  my  me7ite,  he  was  in  the 
privacy  one  espy;  for  I  look  away  from  him  to  my 
other  companies,  and,  in  one  moment,  when  I  look  back 
to  him,  I  behold  it  in  his  hands  his  tablet,  and  one 
pencil !  0,  he  was  at  the  work,  I  give  it  you  my 
honour,  of  writing  down  all  what  I  say  to  some  persons 
whatsoever  in  the  room !  Indeed  I  was  angry  enough. 
Pretty  much  so,  I  give  it  you  my  word.  But  soon 
after,  I  discern  he  was  no  impostor,  and  besides,  no 
espy ;  for  soon  I  find  it  out  I  was  myself  only  the 
monster  he  came  to  observe,  and  to  describe  with  one 
pencil  in  his  tablet !  0,  is  a  very  good  man,  Mr. 
Boswell,  in  the  bottom  !  so  cheerful,  so  witty,  so  gentle, 
so  talkable.  But,  at  the  first,  0,  I  was  indeed  fache  of 
the  sufficient.  I  was  in  one  passion,  in  my  mente,  very 
well."  The  truth  was,  that,  in  spite  of  all  Mr.  Boswell's 
disclaimers,  he  was  believed  to  have  a  mission  from 
England,  and  was  treated  accordingly.  His  chocolate 
was  served  on  a  silver  salver  bearino;  the  Corsican  arms. 
The  nobles  waited  on  him,  and,  when  he  chose  to  make 
a  little  tour,  he  was  attended  in  state  by  a  party  of 
guards.  On  one  day,  when  he  was  mounted  on  Paoli's 
own  horse,  richly  caparisoned  with  gold,  "  I  allowed 
myself,"  he  says,  "  to  indulge  a  momentary  pride  in  this 
parade,  as  I  was  anxious  to  experience  what  could  really 
be  the  pleasure  of  state  and  distinction,"  and  when  he 
returned  to  the  mainland  he  could  tell  his  friends  that 
"he  would  not  bear  to  live  with  them,  as  they  did  not 
treat  him  with  a  proper  respect."  All  the  time,  he 
enjoyed  "  a  sort  of  luxury  of  noble  sentiments."     He 


^2  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

was  also  keepiug  a  journal,  in  wliich  lie  set  down  his 
host's  remarks.  The  general  gave  him  much  good 
advice  on  the  subject  of  moral  conduct.  This,  joined 
with  the  fcict  that  he  received  a  warning  not  to  be  too 
iittentive  to  the  ladies  of  the  country,  seems  to  show 
that  the  traveller  had  been  exhibiting  his  customary 
weakness.  Paoli  especially  enjoined  him  to  marry, 
and  hoped  to  have  a  letter  from  him,  on  his  return, 
announcing  this  happy  event.  From  this  high  favour, 
the  worthy  natives  were  more  and  more  convinced  that 
he  had  a  mission,  and  styled  him  "  the  English  Ambas- 
sador." He  became  a  great  favourite  with  them.  "I 
got  a  Corsican  dress  made,  in  which  I  walked  about 
with  an  air  of  true  satisfaction."  In  this  very  costume 
he  figured  at  the  Stratford  Jubilee.  The  general  made 
him  a  present  of  his  own  handsome  pistols.  "  I  had 
every  other  accoutrement.  I  even  got  one  of  the 
shells  which  had  often  sounded  the  alarm  to  liberty." 
So  transported  and  excited  became  our  traveller,  that  he 
gave  way  to  more  than  his  usual  extravagance.  They 
wished  him  to  give  them  an  air  on  the  German  flute. 
"To  have  told  them,  'Really,  gentlemen,  I  play  very 
ill,'  and  to  put  on  such  airs  as  we  do  in  our  grand 
companies,  would  have  been  highly  ridiculous.  I  there- 
fore immediately  complied  with  their  request.  I  gave 
them  one  or  two  Italian,  and  then  some  of  our  beautiful 
■old  Scotch  tunes,  '  Cornriggs  are  honnie,'  '  Gildei^oy.' 
The  Corsicans  were  charmed  with  the  specimens  I  gave 
them,  though  I  might  now  say,  that  they  were  very 
indifferently  performed.  My  good  friends  insisted  also 
to  have  an  EnoHsh  song;  from  me.  I  endeavoured  to 
please  them  in  this  too.  I  sang  them  'Hearts  of  Oak.' 
I  translated  it  into  Italian  for  them,  and  never  did  I 
«ee  men  so  delio-hted  with  a  sone:  as  the  Corsicans  were 


THE    TOUR   IN   CORSICA.  93 

with  '  Hearts  of  Oak.'  '  Caore  di  querco  ! '  cried  tliey. 
'Bravo  Inglese  /'  It  was  quite  a  joyous  riot.  I  fancied 
myself  to  be  a  recruiting  officer.  I  fancied  all  my 
chorus  of  Corsicans  aboard  the  Ensjlish  fleet."  This  i,s 
all  comic  enough,  especially  the  idea  of  his  being  saluted 
as  "  heart  of  oak,"  but  is  natural  and  ingenuous  too. 

With  much  epanchement  de  cceiir,  he  informed  the 
chief  of  the  state  of  his  soul  and  spirits.  "  With  a 
mind  naturally  inclined  to  melancholy,  and  a  keen  sense 
of  enquiry,  I  had  applied  myself  to  metaphysical  re- 
searches, and  reasoned  beyond  my  depth  on  such 
subjects  as  it  is  not  given  to  man  to  know.  I  told  him 
I  had  rendered  my  mind  a  camera  obscura  ;  that  in  the 
heat  of  youth  I  had  felt  the  '  all  is  vanity '  of  one  who 
had  exhausted  all  the  sweets  of  his  being  with  dull 
repetition.  I  told  him  that  I  had  almost  become  for 
ever  incapable  of  taking  a  part  in  action."  Paoli 
listened  to  these  singular  and  overcharged  confessions. 
Advisedly  enough,  Boswell  described  to  him  his  new 
friend  Johnson,  repeating  to  him  several  of  his  pungent 
sayings,  which  were  happily  chosen,  such  as  that 
of  "  counting  the  spoons  in  the  case  of  a  person  who 
denied  there  was  any  difference  between  virtue  and 
vice,"  and  that  of  going  to  "  milk  the  bull."  Johnson 
must  have  been  flattered  to  learn  that  Paoli  translated 
these  into  Italian  for  the  Corsicans. 

At  last  he  had  to  c[uit  this  pleasant  place,  and,  on 
his  way  back,  paid  a  visit  to  the  French  portion  of  the 
island,  where  he  was  seized  with  an  ague  or  fever.  The 
Count  de  Marboeuf  treated  him  with  great  kindness. 
Here  it  was  once  more  repeated  that  he  had  a  mission. 
''Idle  as  these  rumours  were,  it  is  a  fact  that,  when 
I  was  at  Genoa,  M.  Gherardi,  one  of  his  Secretaries  of 
State,  very  seriously  told  me,  '  Sir,  you  have  made  me 


94  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOS  WELL. 

tremble,  though  I  never  saw  you  before ; '  and  when  I 
smiled,  and  assured  him  that  I  was  just  a  simple 
traveller,  he  shook  his  head,  but  said  he  had  very 
authentic  information  concerning  me.  He  then  told  me 
with  great   gravity  that  '  while  I  travelled  in  Corsica 

I  was  dressed  in  scarlet  and  gold,  but  when  I  paid  my 
respects  to  the  Supreme  Council  at  Corte  I  appeared  in 

II  full  suit  of  black.'  This  important  truth  I  fairly 
owned,  and  he  seemed  to  exult  over  me." 

Such,  then,  was  this  spirited  adventure,  which,  it 
must  be  said,  fashioned  the  "cub  of  Newmarket"  into 
a  very  tolerable  man  of  the  world.  We  are  astonished 
to  find  the  number  of  distinguished  personages  abroad 
to  whom  the  young  traveller  contrived  to  introduce 
himself,  and  whose  friendship  and  attention  he  secured. 
In  so  young  a  man,  just  enlarged  from  a  Scotch  college, 
this  was  remarkable,  and  betokened  social  powers  of  a 
high  order.  We  may  wonder,  too,  how  readily  he  picked 
up  French  and  Italian  languages. 

Boswell  to  Wilkes. 

"  Genoa,  Dec.  1,  1765. 
"Dear  Sir, — You  are  a  very  sad  man  indeed.  I 
wrote  you  a  long  letter  from  Venice,  and  a  most  classic 
one  from  Mantua.  I  directed  them  both  '  a  M.  Wilkes, 
a  Naples,'  according  to  your  desire,  and  am  sure  that 
I  did  not  neglect  to  give  you  my  address  at  this  place. 
After  making  a  very  singular  tour  to  the  island  of 
Corsica,  I  arrived  at  Genoa,  in  full  hopes  of  finding  a 
packet  of  your  wit  and  gayety ;  but  to  my  great  dis- 
appointment there  was  not  a  line  from  you.  If  you 
have  received  the  letters  I  mention,  I  must  be  very 
angry  with  you,  for,  although  I  have  heard  that  you 
have  been  running  over  the  world,  trying  the  keenness 


THE   TOUR  IN  CORSICA.  95 

of  your  wit  with  tlicat  of  Voltaire,  I  cannot  excuse  your 
forQ-ettino-  an  ancient  laird. 

"  I  have  had  a  flow  of  spirits,  and  have  wa^itten 
above  a  hundred  and  fifty  lines  of  my  Epistle  to  you. 
I  am  in  hopes  it  wdll  be  a  piece  that  will  do  us  both 
some  honour.  I  set  out  for  Paris  in  a  wxek  hence.  My 
father  is  ill,  and  anxious  to  see  me.  If  I  do  not  hear 
that  he  is  better,  my  stay  in  France  at  this  time  must 
be  very  short. 

"  Pray  wTite  to  me  immediately,  at  Lyons,  by  the 
address  which  you  will  find  on  the  opposite  page.  It 
will  please  me  to  be  thus  met  by  you  on  my  road  to 
Paris.     Adieu,  dear  Sir. — J.  B. 

"  J.4.  Monsieur  —  Boswell, 

Gentilhomme  Ecossais, 
Chez  M.  Isidore,  Pere  et  Fils. 

"P.S. — I  beg  you  may  put  'John  Wilkes'  at  the 
end  of  your  letters,  that  they  may  not  look  like  unsigned 
title  deeds." 

This  request  was,  of  course,  made  wdth  a  view  to 
the  collection  of  recollections  which  he  w^as  making, 
and  which  Johnson  w^ould  not  sanction  his  publishing. 

When  he  reached  Lyons,  he  bethought  him  of  his 
"  wild  philosopher,"  who  he  heard  w^as  at  Paris,  and 
wrote  him  this  enthusiastic  letter. 

Boswell  to  Rousseau. 

"  Lyons,  Jan.  4,  1766. 

"  Illustrious  Philosopher, — At  last  I  see  day. 
For  many  months  I  have  been  uncertain  into  what 
corner  you  have  retired,  and  knew  not  where  to  address 
a  letter  to.     Did  you  receive  one  that   I  wrote  from 


96  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

Leghorn  on  the  eve  of  my  sailing  for  Corsica  ?     I  was 
six  weeks  in  the  island.     I  saw  much  of  its  inhabitants. 
I  enquired  into  everything  with  that   diligence  which 
you  know  I  can  exert.     I  knew  the  brave  Paoli  inti- 
mately.    I  have  treasures  to  communicate  to  you.     If 
you  are  as  devoted  to  the  gallant  islanders,  as  you  were 
when   you   wTote   to   the    noble    Buttafuoco,   you   will 
embrace  me  with  enthusiasm.     You  will  forget  all  your 
troubles  for  my  one  evening.     I  am  under  the  greatest 
obligations  to  you  for  having  sent  me  to  Corsica.     This 
expedition  has  done  me   a  world    of  good.     It   is   as 
though   the    whole    of   Plutarch's   lives   had    dissolved 
within  me.     Paoli  has  soothed  my  soul  in  a  way  that 
it  will  never  lose.     I  am  no  longer  the  delicate  restless 
being  who  was  complaining  in  the  Val  cle  Travers,     I  am 
a  man,  I  think  for  myself.    You  have  given  me  new  birth. 
"  I  arrived  here  yesterday,  and,  this  evening,  Madame 
Boy  Latour  tells  me  that  you  are  at  Paris.     I  would  give 
much  that  you  could  have  seen  the  delight  with  which 
I  received  this  news.     I  take  Monday's  diligence,  and 
by  Saturday  shall  be  at  Paris.     I  never  swear :  other- 
wise you  would  hear  a  volley  of  oaths — by  which  ex- 
cited Englishmen  express  satisfaction  more  than  usual. 

"■'  I  am  devoted  to  the  Corsicans  body  and  soul.  If 
you,  the  illustrious  Rousseau,  the  philosopher  they 
have  chosen  to  aid  them  by  his  lights  to  preserve  and 
enjoy  the  liberty  they  have  won  so  heroically, — if  you 
have  turned  cold  for  these  brave  islanders,  I  am  so  far 
man  as  to  look  on  you  with  pity.*  But  generosity  is 
a  part  of  your  existence,  and  I  am  not  one  of  those  who 

*  "  Je  suis  tant  lionime,  de  pouvoir  vous  regarder  avec  pitie." 
The  editor  of  the  "  oeuvres  inedites"  is  contemptuous  on  Boswell's 
French,  and  has  to  expound  this  piece  of  "jargon."  He  pre- 
fers, he  says,  not  to  amend  it,  as  such  a  course  would  interfere 


with  its  genuine  tone. 


THE   TOUR   IN   CORSICA.  97 

believe   that   the   noble   qualities   of  the   soul  cau  be 
extinguished. 

"It  is  reported  that  you  go  to  England.  What  a 
delightful  prospect  for  me !  I  am  certain  there  is  not 
a  man  in  the  Avorld  more  eager  to  contribute  to  your 
happiness  than  I  am  :  and  you,  too,  may  be  sure  of  it. 
In  due  time  you  will  trust  in  my  Lord  Marischal's  young 
friend.  I  look  forward  with  perfect  enjoyment  to 
making  you  acquainted  with  Mr.  Johnson,  of  whom  I 
talked  to  you  so  much  at  Motier,  and  of  whom  you 
said,  ' I  shall  love  that  man:  I  shall  7'espect  him,' — 
that,  too,  after  being  told  that  he  had  little  respect  for 
you.  But  I  know  you  both,  and  though  one  uses  his 
strength  to  support  the  wisdom  of  ages,  the  other  to 
support  the  dreams  of  his  sublime  and  singular  soul,  I 
am  certain  both  your  great  souls  will  meet  in  warmth. 
You  will  visit  Scotland,  see  our  romantic  country : 
Eousseau  will  meditate  among  the  venerable  groves  of 
my  ancestors :  and  will  believe  with  me  that  nymphs, 
genii,  angels,  and  all  kinds  of  happy  and  benevolent 
spirits  hold  their  choirs  there ! 

"Adieu,  my  dear  Sir,  How  I  long  to  see  you;  to 
tell  you  a  thousand  anecdotes  about  Corsica,  which  will 
delight  you !  The  moment  I  reach  Paris,  I  shall  send  to 
Madame  Duchesne  where  to  find  a  line  from  you.  I 
am  always  for  you  what  I  was  at  Mortier." 

The  signature  of  this  letter  had  been  erased,  but 
there  is  no  mistaking  the  style.*  It  turned  out  that 
Rousseau  had  set  off  on  his  famous  expedition  to 
London,  on  the  day  before  Boswell  wrote  his  letter. 
It  is  likely  that  it  never  reached  him.  On  the 
quarrel   breaking   out   between   Hume    and    Rousseau, 

*  Museet  Pathay,  "ffiavres  inedites  de  Rousseau,"  torn.  ii. 

VOL.  I.  H 


98  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

wliicli  was  the  amusement  of  the  town,  Bos  well  could 
not  resist  contributing  his  share  to  the  general  ridicule. 
Though  he  had  been  "  very  hearty,"  as  he  phrased 
it,  with  Hume,  he  wrote  burlesque  verses  on  the 
character  of  each  disputant,  and  designed  a  caricature 
of  a  coarse  kind  which  was  in  the  print-shops.  He 
complained,  however,  that  they  had  altered  it  in  the 
drawing,  and  had  applied  the  most  offensive  incident 
to  the  figjure  of  Hume. 

This  intimacy  with  Eousseau,  Voltaire,  and  otliers  of 
their  kind,  made  Johnson  say  that  he  had  been  "keeping- 
very  pretty  company  when  abroad."  The  young  man 
pleaded  that  their  conversation  gave  him  much  pleasure, 
and  that  Eousseau's  writings  "edified  him."  He  took 
care,  however,  to  say  nothing  to  his  great  friend  of  a 
strange  act  of  complaisance,  with  which  he  gratified  the 
French  philosopher.  He  was  requested  to  escort  over  to 
London  the  notorious  Le  Vasseur,  Rousseau's  mistress, 
and  he  accepted  the  office.  The  incident  was  described 
in  a  letter  of  Hume's,  dated  January  12,  1766  : — 

"  A  letter  has  come  open  to  me  from  Guy,  the  book- 
seller, by  which  I  learn  that  Mademoiselle  sets  out  first 
in  company  with  a  friend  of  mine,  a  young  gentleman 
very  good-humoured,  very  agreeable,  and  very  mad. 
He  visited  Rousseau  in  his  mountains,  who  gave  him  a 
recommendation  to  Paoli,  the  King  of  Corsica ;  where 
this  gentleman,  whose  name  is  Boswell,  went  last  summer 
in  search  of  adventures.  He  has  such  a  rage  for  litera- 
ture, that  I  dread  some  event  fatal  to  our  friend's 
honour." 

His  plan  was  to  remain  in  Paris  for  the  winter ;  but 
when  he  arrived  in  that  city,  news  reached  him  of  his 
mother's  death,  which,  however,  does  not  seem  to  have 
quickened  his  movements,  for  we  find  him  remaining  for 


THE   TOUR   IN  CORSICA.  99 

some  time  in  London,  waiting  on  Mr.  Pitt,  and  supping 
Avitli  Johnson.  It  was  unfortunate  that  he  was  never  able 
to  be  with  his  near  relations  at  their  last  moments,  and 
he  was  far  away,  or  arrived  too  late,  when  his  father,  his 
mother,  and  his  wife  were  on  their  deathbeds. 


100  LIFE   OF  JAMES   BO  SWELL. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

MR.    PITT — "the    celebrated    MR.    BOSWELL." 

1766. 

BoswELL  arrived  in  LoncloD  iu  February,  176G,  and 
was  presently  mncli  engrossed  iu  putting  the  Corsicans 
"  in  a  proper  situation,"  as  lie  phrased  it,  and  preparing 
his  agreeable  book  of  travels  and  adventures,  which,  how- 
ever, did  not  appear  until  a  year  or  so  later.  He  had 
learned  so  much  of  the  world  in  his  travels,  that  we  are 
hardly  surprised  at  the  rather  cold  tone  in  which  he 
describes  his  meetino;  with  his  friend  Johnson — a  curious 
contrast  to  the  emotion  with  which  he  had  parted  with 
him.  "  I  returned,"  he  writes  in  February,  "  and  found 
Dr.  Johnson  in  a  good  house  in  Johnson's  Court.  .  .  . 
His  faithful  Francis  was  still  attending  him.  He  re- 
ceived me  with  much  kindness.  The  fragments  of  our 
first  conversation,  which  I  have  preserved,  are  these, 
etc."  Believing  himself  now  to  be  a  sort  of  missionary 
for  the  Corsican  cause,  and  under  a  delusion  that  he  had 
credentials,  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  an  interview  with 
Mr.  Pitt,  presenting  himself  in  his  Corsican  fancy  dress ! 
He  eagerly  pressed  on  him  the  necessity  of  at  once 
doing  something  for  the  gallant  islanders.  There  was 
something  bold,  if  not  intrusive,  in  this.     But  he  was 


MR.   PITT — "THE   CELEDBATED    MIL   DOSWELLr      101 

received  very  politely,  and  followed   up  bis  interview 
with  letters  which  were  replied  to  courteously.* 

Mr,  Bosivdl  to  Mr.  Pitt. 

"  St.  James'  Street,  Februaiy  19,  1766. 

"  Sir, — I  have  had  the  honour  to  receive  your  most 
obliging  letter,  and  can  with  difficulty  restrain  myself 
from  paying  you  compliments  on  the  very  genteel 
manner  in  which  you  are  pleased  to  treat  me.  But  I 
come  from  a  people  among  whom  even  the  lowest  arts 
of  insinuation  are  unknown.  However,  you  may  by 
political  circumstances  be,  in  one  view,  a  simple  indi- 
vidual, yet.  Sir,  Mr.  Pitt  will  always  be  the  prime 
minister  of  the  brave,  the  secretary  of  freedom  and  of 
spirit ;  and  I  hope  that  I  may  with  propriety  talk  to 
him  of  the  views  of  the  illustrious  Paoli. 

"  Be  that  as  it  may,  I  shall  very  much  value  the 
honour  of  being  admitted  to  your  acquaintance. — I  am, 
Sir,  with  the  highest  esteem,"  etc. 

When  he  returned  to  Auchinleck  he  still  pursued 
Mr.  Pitt  with  his  importunities,  which  were  acknow- 
ledged in  the  same  good-humoured  and  respectful  fashion. 
This  only  stimulated  Mr.  Boswell's  pen.  One  of  the 
minister's  letters,  he  tells  us,  was  three  pages  long. 

Mr.  Boswell  to  Lord  Chatham. 

"  Auchinleck,  April  18,  1767. 
"  My  Loed, — I  have  had  the  honour  to  receive  your 
Lordship's  letter   from  Bath,   and  I  perfectly  feel  the 

*  "  Some  of  the  particulars  of  this  interview,  all  of  which  he 
committed  to  writing,  he  has  been  heard  to  mention  in  a  very 
interesting"  manner  "  ("  Memoir,"  by  himself.)  This  shows  what 
an  agi'eeable  book  of  recollections  Ave  have  lost  by  the  destruction 
of  his  papers,  and  which  he  was  dissuaded  by  Johnson  from  putting 
in  order. 


102  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOS  WELL. 

sentiments  which  it  contains.  I  only  wish  that  the  cir- 
cumstances were  such  that  your  Lordship  would  have  an 
opportunity  of  showing  the  interest  you  take  in  the  fate 
of  a  people  who  well  deserve  the  favour  of  so  illustrious 
a  patron  of  liberty  as  your  Lordship.  I  have  communi- 
cated to  General  Paoli  the  contents  of  your  Lordship's 
letter,  and  I  am  persuaded  he  will  think  as  I  do.  Allow 
me  to  give  your  Lordship  another  quotation  from  a 
letter  of  that  hero.  It  is  addressed  to  a  friend  of  mine  at 
Leghorn.  '  Essendo  al  ministerio  il  Conte  di  Chatham, 
voglio  sperar  tutto  il  buon  successo  alia  generosa 
premuira  del  Signor  Boswell,'  etc. 

"I  leave  with  the  Earl  of  Chatham  these  words  of 
General  Paoli,  and  I  am  persuaded  queir  anima  grande 
will  not  foro-et  them. 

"Your  Lordship  applauds  my  generous  warmth  for  so 
striking  a  character  as  the  able  chief.  Indeed,  my  Lord, 
I  have  the  happiness  of  being  capable  to  contemplate 
with  supreme  delight  those  distinguished  spirits  by 
whom  God  is  sometimes  pleased  to  honour  humanity, 
and  as  I  have  no  personal  favour  to  ask  your  Lordship, 
I  will  tell  you,  with  the  confidence  of  one  who  does  not 
fear  to  be  thought  a  flatterer,  that  your  character,  my 
Lord,  has  filled  many  of  my  best  hours  with  the  noble 
admiration  which  a  disinterested  soul  can  enjoy  in  the 
bower  of  philosophy. 

"  I  think  it  my  duty  to  inform  your  Lordship  that  I 
am  preparing  to  publish  an  account  of  Corsica :  my  plan 
is,  first,  to  give  a  geographical  and  physical  description 
of  the  island  ;  and,  secondly,  to  exhibit  a  concise  view  of 
the  revolutions  it  has  undera:one  from  the  earliest  times 
till  now  ;  thirdly,  to  show  the  present  state  of  Corsica  in 
every  respect ;  and,  lastly,  I  subjoin  my  journal  of  a  tour 
to  that  island,  in  which  I  relate  a  variety  of  anecdotes. 


ME.   PITT — ''THE   CELEBRATED  MR.    BO  SWELL:'       103 

and  treasure  up  many  memoirs  of  tlie  illustrious  general 
of  the  Corsicans. 

"  As  for  myself,  to  please  a  worthy  and  respected 
father,  one  of  our  Scots  judges,  I  studied  law,  and  am 
now  fairly  entered  to  the  Bar.  I  begin  to  like  it.  I  can 
labour  hard  ;  I  feel  myself  coming  forward,  and  I  hope 
to  be  useful  to  my  country.  Could  your  Lordship  find 
time  to  honour  me  now  and  then  with  a  letter  ?  I  have 
been  told  how  fav^ourably  your  Lordship  has  spoken  of 
me.  To  correspond  with  a  Paoli  and  a  Chatham  is 
enough  to  keep  a  young  man  ever  ardent  in  the  pursuit 
of  a  virtuous  fame. — I  ever  am,  my  Lord,  with  the  highest 
admiration,  your  Lordship's  much  obliged  humble  servant, 
James  Boswell." 

This  burst  of  confidential  and  personal  matters  is  in 
Boswell's  happy  style.  He  always  gave  way  to  such 
epanchements,  fancying  he  was  interesting  his  corre- 
spondent. It  was,  indeed,  long  before  this  passion  wore 
itself  out ;  and  there  was  yet  to  be  another  "  burst "  before 
he  succeeded  in  "  emptying  his  head  of  Corsica."  *  This 
took  the  shape  of  a  rather  poorish  little  volume,  entitled 
"  British  Essays  in  Favour  of  the  Brave  Corsican,"  which 
he  culled  from  newspapers,  many  of  them  written  by  him- 
self, and  which  were  often  in  the  ephemeral  type  of  such 
productions.  The  characteristic  portion  is  an  allegorical 
frontispiece,  which  our  author  expounded  more  suo.'\ 

*  He  even  joined  in  a  subscription  for  sending  out  arms  and 
ammunition  to  tlie  ''  Brave  Corsicans,"  and  ordered  the  pieces 
himself :  "  The  Carron  Company  has  furnished  me  them  very 
cheap  ;  there  are  two  32-pounders,  four  24's,  four  18's,  and  twenty 
9-pounders,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  ball  to  each.  It  is  really  a 
tolerable  train  of  artillery." 

t  Explanation  of  the  frontispiece  :  "  Corsica,  with  her  usual 
attendant,  the  dog,  was  an  emblem  of  fidelity  and  resolution,  with 
a  shield  blazoned  Avith  the  Moor's  head  as  a  crest,  lying  on  the 


104  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

When  he  was  at  Auchinleck  he  indulofed  in  these  odd 
meditations  :  "  My  father  said  to  me, '  I  am  much  pleased 
with  your  conduct  in  every  respect.'  After  all  my 
anxiety  while  abroad,  here  is  the  most  perfect  approbation 
and  calm  of  mind.  I  never  felt  such  sollid  {sic)  happi- 
ness. But  I  feel  I  am  not  so  hajDpy  with  this  aj^probation 
and  this  calm  as  I  expected  to  be.  Alas  !  such  is  the 
condition  of  humanity,  that  we  are  not  allowed  here  the 
perfect  enjoyment  of  the  satisfaction  which  arises  even 
from  worth.  But  why  do  I  say  '  alas  ! '  when  I  really  look 
upon  this  life  merely  as  a  transient  state?  .  .  .  I  must  stay 
at  Auchinleck.  I  have  there  just  the  kind  of  comjDlain- 
ing  proper  for  me.  All  must  complain,  and  I  more  than 
most  of  my  fellow-creatures."  But  the  old  judge  was 
much  disgusted  with  this  enthusiasm  for  one  whom  he 
styled  a  "  land-louping  fellow."  In  vain  his  son  ''  wrote  to 
him  with  warmth,  with  an  honest  wishino^  that  he  should 
think  of  me  £is  I  am  ;  but  my  letters  shock  him,  and  every 
exjDression  in  them  is  interpreted  unfavourably.  How 
galling  it  is  for  the  friend  of  Paoli  to  be  treated  so  !  I 
have  answered  him  in  my  own  style.  I  will  be  myself." 
There  is  something  comic  in  this  unconsciousness  that  he 
is  not  recommending  either  himself  or  his  cause,  and  the 
idea  that  he  could  bring  over  the  grim  old  judge,  who, 
he  thought,  ought  to  love  Paoli,  because  he  loved  him. 

ground,  supplicates  assistance  from  Great  Britain,  while  France, 
elated  with  vain  ambition,  comes  in  a  barbarous  manner  ready  to 
assassinate  Corsica.  Great  Britain  with  a  generous  dignity  holds  her 
shield  over  the  head  of  Corsica,  assuring  her  of  safety.  In  a  corner 
is  a  basso-relievo  of  the  old  fable  of  the  lion  and  the  mouse.  The 
lion  has  shown  kindness  to  the  mouse ;  sometime  after,  the  lion 
was  entangled,  etc.  The  fable  shows  how  a  very  inconsiderable 
man  or  a  very  small  state  may  have  an  opportunity  of  repaying  a 
kindness  to  her  greatest  friend.  The  motto  is  '  Magna  Britannia 
Corsica  protegit.'  Great  Britain  protects  Corsica.  I  am  obliged 
to  the  ingenious  artist,  Mr.  Miller,  for  the  readiness  with  which  he 
has  executed  my  ideas,  and  improved  them  with  his  own." 


MR.   PITT — ''THE   CELEDBATEl)   MR.   ROSWELL."     105 

He  was  also  busy  preparing  an  account  of  his  travels, 
but  wliat  with  dissipation,  love-afiliirs,  and  some  more 
serious  pursuits,  it  took  him  much  time  to  get  his 
notes  into  order,  and  the  work  did  not  appear  until 
the  year  1768.  Later  he  was  very  eager  to  have  his 
mentor's  encouragement  to  publish  an  account  of  his 
travels  on  the  continent  and  of  all  that  he  had  seen. 
The  doctor  roughly  discouraged  him,  saying  that  he  had 
nothing  to  tell  beyond  what  had  been  already  told,  but 
we  are  inclined  to  think  that  the  sage  was  wrong.  The 
tourist  had  met,  or  intruded  on,  not  a  few  remarkable 
persons  ;  he  had  seen  much  that  was  curious  "and  enter- 
taining ;  and  had  put  down  in  his  note-book  much  odd 
information  and  many  anecdotes. 

Boswell   to    Wilkes. 

"  Aucliinleck,  May  6,  1766. 
"  Dear  See, — I  shall  never  forget  your  humane  and 
kind  behaviour  to  me  at  Paris,  when  I  received  the 
melancholy  news  of  my  mother's  death.  I  have  been 
doing  all  in  my  power  to  comfort  my  w^orthy  father,  and 
I  thank  God  he  is  now  greatly  recovered.  You  suggested 
to  me  a  very  just  reflection  that  it  was  lucky  for  my 
father  that  he  received  the  severe  stroke  when  I  was 
absent,  for  had  I  been  with  him  he  would  have  had 
nothiuG;  strono-  enough  to  divert  his  attention  from  an 
irrepairable  loss,  whereas,  my  return  from  my  travels 
would  be  a  new  object  to  him,  and  help  to  compensate 
for  his  great  misfortune.  I  have  found  the  truth  of  what 
you  said,  and  for  once  in  my  life  have  been  of  considerable 
use.  I  know  you  will  not  like  me  the  worse  that  I  have 
been  doing  my  duty.  I  have  often  thought  of  you  with 
affection  ;  indeed,  I  never  admired  you  more  than  when 
you  tried  to  alleviate  my  affliction  ;  for,  whether  it  be 


106  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

from  self-interest  or  not,  I  set  a  higlier  value  on  the 
qualities  of  the  heart  than  on  those  of  the  head.  I  hope 
you  are  better,  and  am  anxious  to  hear  particularly 
everything  that  concerns  you.  I  have  a  great  deal  to 
say  to  you ;  but  you  forgot  to  give  me  your  address,  and 
I  think  it  would  be  improper  for  me  to  write  to  you  with 
our  usual  freedom  till  I  am  sure  that  my  letters  can  go 
safe.  I  enclose  this  under  cover  to  Mr.  Foley.  If  you 
receive  it,  pray  write  to  me  immediately.  My  address 
is  at  the  Honourable  Lord  Auchinleck's,  at  Edinburgh, 
North]  Britain. — Believe  me,  dear  Sir,  yours  as  ever, 
James  Boswell."  * 

*  MS.,  British  Museum. 


(    lOT    ) 


CHAPTER  X. 

CALLED  TO  THE  BAR — THE  DOUGLAS  CAUSE. 

1707. 

But  presently  a  new  craze,  pursued  witli  the  same  ardour, 
was  for  a  time  to  drive  this  Corsican  business  out  of  his 
head.  According  to  his  compact  with  his  father,  he  was 
now  seriously  to  enter  on  his  profession.  When  he  went 
to  the  Scottish  Bar,  on  his  return  from  his  travels,  he 
no  doubt  "took  his  name  off  the  books  "  of  the  Inner 
Temple,  or  allowed  the  business  to  lapse,  though,  some 
years  later,  in  May,  1775,  we  find  him  again  entering  that 
Inn.  As  Johnson  then  WTote  to  Mrs.  Thrale,  "He  has 
entered  himself  at  the  Temple,  and  I  joined  in  his  bond." 
It  is  curious  that  his  friend  had  not  recorded  something 
about  this  interesting  occasion,  or  of  the  interview  with 
the  Treasurer,  when  Johnson  w^ould  have  acquitted  him- 
self as  he  did  on  occasions  of  state,  with  a  stately  "  Now, 
Mr.  Treasurer,"  and  courteous  questions  in  pursuit  of 
information.  Even  after  taking  this  step,  the  matter 
seems  to  have  been  again  dropped ;  for  Boswell  was  not 
actually  called  until  February  10,  1786,  and,  as  he  wrote 
in  his  note-book,  "  When  I  found  I  could  labour,  I  said  it 
was  a  ])itj  to  dig  in  a  lead  mine  when  I  could  get  to  a 
gold  one."  But  he  was  to  find  no  gold  mine,  and  it  had 
been  better  that  he  had  continued  to  work  the  lead  one  he 
had  abandoned.     Before  beiug  admitted  as  an  advocate, 


108  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

he  had,  according  to  rule,  to  prepare  a  thesis,  or  exercise, 
and  this  he  inscribed  to  Lord  Moimtstiiart,  his  "  noble 
patron,"  or  Maecenas,  in  a  Latin  dedication,  in  which 
Johnson  found  a  considerable  number  of  solecisms.  "When 
he  was  *'  called "  he  made  a  pleasant  remark  to  his 
brethren,  which  pleased  himself  also,  for  he  set  it  down. 
"  After  putting  on  the  gown,  he  said  with  great  good 
humour  to  his  brother  advocates, '  Gentlemen,  I  am  prest 
into  the  service  here  ;  but  I  have  observed  that  a  prest 
man,  either  by  sea  or  land,  after  a  little  time  does  just  as 
w^ell  as  a  volunteer.' "  It  must  be  said  this  was  almost 
witty.  Nor  did  he  spare  his  new  brethren  in  these  sallies. 
An  advocate  who  was  clever  and  ingenious,  but  had  a 
weak  voice  and  diminutive  appearance,  he  said,  reminded 
him  of  "  Giardini's  playing  upon  a  child's  fiddle."  Of 
Crosbie,  the  advocate,  who  was  very  self-opinionated,  he 
said,  "I  said  Crosbie's  head  was  like  a  Christmas-box 
with  a  slit  in  the  top  of  it.  If  once  a  thing  has  got 
into  it,  you  cannot  get  it  out  again  but  by  breaking  the 
box.  '  We  must  break  your  head,  Crosbie,'  said  I.  .  .  . 
I  said  the  Court  of  Session  was  much  more  quiet  and 
agreeable  when  President  Dundas  was  absent.  '  When 
he  is  there,'  said  I,  '  you  feel  yourself  as  in  a  bleachfield 
with  a  large  dog  in  it.  He  is  chained  and  does  not  bite 
you.  But  he  barks  wowf  vcowf,  and  makes  you  start  ; 
your  nerves  are  hurt  by  him.'  " 

One  who  knew  Boswell  well  has  described  him  at 
this  time,  though  the  account  has  a  suspicious  Hkeness 
to  his  own  style  ;  and  it  is  curious  to  contrast  this 
sketch  with  that  of  the  decorous  being  who  ''  waits 
so  respectfully  on  Dr.  Johnson,"  moralizes  on  his  own 
defects,  and  the  vices  of  others.  It  is  clear  that  the 
sage,  a  "  great  disperser  of  humbug,"  did  not  suspect 
the  laxities  of  his  friend. 


CALLED    TO    THE  BAR — THE  DOUGLAS  CAUSE.     109 

"  He  passed  tlirougli  these  trials  with  honour. 
Called  to  the  Bar,  he  distinouished  himself  in  his  first 
appearances  by  an  ingenious  invention  of  arguments, 
a  brilliancy  of  eloquence,  and  a  quickness  of  wit,  such 
as  sufficiently  confirmed  that  favourable  opinion  of  his 
talents  which  his  friends  had  long  entertained.  Lady 
Margaret  Macdonald  gave  a  masquerade,  a  species  of 
amusement  very  unusual  at  Edinburgh  ;  and  James 
Boswell,  almost  alone  of  all  the  masqued  characters,  was 
admired  as  having  acted  the  part  he  had  assumed  with 
charming  felicity.  He  was  extensively  acquainted  in 
the  country,  and  w^as  beloved  among  his  acquaintance  ; 
he  was  an  ingenious  and  winning  pleader,  if  not  yet 
a  profound  lawyer.  In  the  papers,  manuscript  or 
printed,  which  he  had  occasion  to  prepare  for  the 
information  of  the  judges  in  those  causes  in  which  he 
was  employed,  there  appeared  commonly  a  grace,  an 
eloquence,  and  a  correctness  of  composition." 

With  his  usual  cleverness,  he  contrived  to  associate 
himself  with  a  highly  "  sensational "  trial  which  was 
now  to  engross  the  attention  of  the  whole  kingdom. 
The  remarkable  "  Douglas  Cause,"  which  has  a  similarity 
to  the  well-known  Annesley  Peerage  claim,  decided  about 
the  same  time,  caused  much  excitement  in  Scotland, 
where  every  one  seems  to  have  taken  one  side  or  the 
other.  The  claimant  was  Mr.  Douglas,  w^ho  was  opposed 
by  the  great  House  of  Hamilton.  The  point  in  dispute 
was  the  marriage  of  Lady  Jane  Douglas  to  Sir  John 
Stewart,  which  was  celebrated  abroad,  under  many  cir- 
cumstances of  mystery  and  suspicion.  One  of  the 
children,  Archibald,  was  the  claimant ;  and  after  pro- 
longed discussion,  commissioners  being  sent  abroad  to 
examine  witnesses,  etc.,  it  was  decided  by  the  Court 
of  Session,  but  only  by  the  casting  voice  of  the  presi- 


110  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

dent,  that  the  child  was  supposititious.  On  an  appeal 
to  the  House  of  Lords,  this  decision  was  reversed.  Lord 
Auchinleck  took  the  side  of  the  chximant,  and  for  once 
Boswell  found  himself  aQ-reeiuG:  with  his  father  on  an 
important  question. 

"  In  17G7,"  he  tells  us,  with  amusing  self-sufficiency, 
"  the  great  Douglas  Cause  being  an  object  of  universal 
attention  and  interest,  Mr.  Boswell  generouslij  volun- 
teered in  favour  of  Mr.  Douglas.  With  a  labour  of 
which  few  are  capable,  he  compressed  the  substance 
of  the  immense  volumes  of  proofs  and  arguments  into 
an  octavo  pamphlet,  which  he  published,  with  the  title 
'  The  Essence  of  the  Douglas  Cause  ; '  and,  as  it  was  thus 
made  intelligible  without  a  tedious  study,  ive  may  ascribe 
to  this  ijamphlet  a  great  share  of  the  ■poindarity  on  Mr. 
Douglases  side,  ivhich  loas  of  infinite  consequence  when 
a  division  of  the  House  of  Lords  upon  an  appeal  ivas 
apprehended;  not  to  mention  that  its  effect  was  said 
to  be  considerable  in  a  certain  important  quarter.  He 
also  took  care  to  keep  the  newspapers  and  other  pub- 
lications incessantly  ivarm  with  various  writings,  both 
in  prose  and  verse,  all  tending  to  touch  the  heart  and 
rouse  the  parental  and  sympathetic  feelings.  His  aid 
upon  this  occasion  was  acknowledged  by  some  very  well 
written  letters  by  thd  '  worthy  Queensberry.'  It  is  well 
known  that  the  hard  decree  was  reversed,  and  that  he 
whom  Boswell  thus  supported  now  enjoys  the  large 
property  of  his  family."  * 

Boswell's  partisanship  prompted  him  to  every  con- 
ceivable exertion,  not  merely  in  the  discussion  of  the 
case,  but  to  bring  himself  forward,  and  acquire  notoriety. 
He  succeeded  in  getting  himself  named,  or,  as  he  candidly 

*  Memoir  in  tlie  European  Magazine. 


CALLED    TO    THE  BAB— THE  DOUGLAS   CAUSE.     Ill 

owns,   at   least  volunteered   to    be   Darned,  one    of  the 
counsel.* 

His  summary  of  the  case  (a  reply  to  a  pleading 
for  the  other  side,  "  Considerations  on  the  Douglas 
Cause "')  was  done  in  a  lawyer-like  fashion ;  hut  I  have 
never  seen  a  copy,  though  portions  were  published  in 
the  Seots  Magazine.  It  proves  what  a  curious  power 
of  industry  was  found  in  Boswell,  whenever  his  enthu- 
siasm was  roused.  In  his  introduction  he  tells  us : 
"  I  was  present  during  the  whole  deliberation  of  the 
cause  before  the  Court  of  Session.  I  took  very  full 
notes,  and  I  cannot  help  regretting  that  the  speeches 
of  several  able  judges  have  been  published  in  a  very 
partial  manner.  The  greatest  part  of  the  arguments 
are  selected  from  the  genuine  notes  of  the  speeches,  and 
a  variety  of  hints  have  been  furnished  for  different 
periodical  publications." 

So  transported  was  he  with  a  sort  of  fanatical 
enthusiasm  in  the  matter,  that  he  wrote  an  apologue, 
or  fairy  tale,  on  the  case.  This  he  called  "  Dorando,  a 
Spanish  Tale,"  in  which  the  Douglas  story  was  dressed 
up  as  a  sort  of  fiction,  with  Spanish  names  and 
incidents.  It  has  been  doubted  whether  this  was 
Boswell's  work.  His  name  is  not  to  it,  and  he  never 
mentioned  or  boasted  of  it  to  Johnson.  It  is  certain, 
however,  that  it  is  of  his  composition  .f 

*  His  assistance  must  have  been  of  the  slightest,  as  his  name 
is  the  last  on  the  list.  "  For  the  defendant :  James  Garden,  now 
Lord  Gardenston ;  Mr.  James  Burnett,  now  Lord  Monboddo ;  Mr. 
James  Montgomery,  now  Lord  Advocate ;  Mr.  Robert  Macqueen ; 
Mr.  David  Rae ;  Mr.  Islay  Campbell ;  ]\Ir.  Robert  Sinclair ;  Mr. 
John  Pringle ;  Mr.  Henry  Dundas,  Solicitor-General ;  Mr.  Charles 
Brown  ;  Mr.  James  Boswell." 

t  In  a  letter  to  Temple  he  speaks  of  "  the  courier  who  brings 
you  this,  and  '  Dorando,'  of  which  I  have  sent  only  one  copy,  as 
I  have  few  here.  When  you.  get  to  London  I  shall  desire  Mr. 
Wilkie,  my  publisher,  to  let  you  have  two  or  three  of  them."     A 


112  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

A  few  extracts  from  the  tale  are  given  in  the  Scots 
Magazine.  "  The  Chief  Justice  was  a  man  of  great 
knowledge  in  the  laws  of  his  country.  He  was  descended 
of  a  distinguished  family  in  Andalusia  which  had  pro- 
duced so  many  senators  that  the  office  seemed  to  be 
hereditary.  Tliis  personage,  then,  delivered  judgment 
in  the  case  which  was  exactly  like  the  Douglas  case. 
'  Can  I  suppose  all  this  to  be  a  complication  of  guilt, 
of  deliberate  and  downright  perjury  ?     No,  Signors,  I 

further  proof  is,  that  some  verses  on  the  statue  of  Charles  II.  in 
the  Parliament  Square  are  quoted  in  the  Scots  Magazine  as  being- 
"  by  the  author  of  '  Dorando,' "  and  these  we  find  in  the  Public 
Advertiser,  where  they  originally  appeared,  with  the  name  of  Mr. 
James  Boswell  as  the  writer.  The  best  evidence,  perhaps,  is  the 
odd  style  in  which  Boswell  called  attention  to  his  work  in  the 
Scots  Magazine,  where  he  was  allowed  to  insert  what  he  pleased. 
''  This  day  was  published  and  sold  by  Drummond  at  Ossian's 
Head,  Edinburgh,  price  Is.,  '  Dorando,  a  Spanish  Tale.'  Nobody 
can  take  it  amiss,  though  we  give  it  as  our  opinion  that '  Dorando,' 
though,  published  in  London,  is  written  by  one  of  our  countrymen. 
We  do  not  give  our  reasons  for  thinking  so,  but  they  are  strong. 
No  performance,  we  will  venture  to  say,  was  ever  better  intended. 
At  a  time  when  all  ranks  are  agitated  with  expectation,  and  parties 
have  run  so  high  that  much  ill-will  and  many  unhappy  animosities 
are  raised,  '  Dorando  '  comes  to  calm  the  violence  and  diffuse  good 
temper  and  complacency  of  disposition." 

The  public  was  then  I'eminded  that  "  this  day  was  published 
'Dorando,'  the  second  edition.  From  an  imagined  similarity  be- 
tween '  Dorando '  and  the  great  Douglas  caiTse,  the  sale  of  it  lias 
been  very  rapid.''  The  notice  goes  on  to  say  that  "  extracts  from  his 
pamphlet  and  remarks  were  inserted  in  the  Mercury  "  (a  Scotch 
paper)  "of  June  20.  We  insert  what  we  presume  were  the  most 
exceptionable  passages.  .  .  .  Doubtless  we  find  in  '  Dorando  '  a 
chief  justice,  very  like  a  distinguished  personage  who  possesses 
the  universal  veneration  and  attachment  of  the  country,  and  an 
Illustrious  Minister,  very  like  to  him  to  whom  Great  Britain  owes 
her  late  glorious  conquests."  Even  attacks  the  author  turned  to 
profit ;  for  the  reviewers,  it  seems,  pronounced  that  "  this  is  a 
most  contemptible  pamphlet,  and  alludes,  though  in  a  very 
unfair  and  imperfect  manner,  to  the  Douglas  cause.  Contemptible, 
however,  as  it  may  seem,  it  has  been  rendered  of  importance  by 
the  judicatory  wdiich  decided  the  case  having  taken  into  custody 
the  publishers." 


CALLED    TO    THE  BAR — THE  DOUGLAS    CAUSE.     113 

cannot,  unless  npon  a  strong  proof  indeed.  Tlicy  have 
embarked  us  on  a  mare  magnnm  of  circumstances, 
picked  up  at  the  distance  of  fourteen  years.  And  I 
must  say,  picked  up  from  the  streets  of  Paris,  from  tho 
very  dregs  of  the  French  canaille.  ,  .  .  Signors,  I  am 
only  surprised  to  see  Don  Pedro  here.  I  know  him, 
;ind  I  regard  him ;  and  it  has  all  along  been  most 
difficult  for  me  to  reconcile  the  case  and  the  lawyer ; 
but  when  I  consider  how  he  has  been  led  away,  I 
excuse  him.'  The  populace  shouted  at  the  decision : 
the  windows  were  illuminated ;  while  healths  and  pro- 
sperity were  drunk  to  the  Prince  Fernando  of  Dorando. 

"  Stung  to  the  quick,  the  Arvidoro  train  carried 
this  cause  by  appeal  before  the  grandees  of  Spain  at 
Madrid.  But  it  only  served  to  make  their  desperate 
schemes  fail.  The  illustrious  assembly  could  hardly 
hear  them  with  patience.  One  of  the  grandees  muttered 
that  the  Arvidoro  party  had  said  strong  things,  that 
they  had  a  heavy  memorial.  '  Heavy ! '  cried  the 
Chancellor,  with  a  violence  that  made  his  brother  shrink 
within  himself — '  heavy  !  Yes,  it  is  heavy  ;  but  heavy 
as  chaos.' "' 

Considering  that  the  matter  was  sub  judice,  this- 
deciding  it  in  the  form  of  fiction,  together  with  the 
praise  and  abuse  of  the  two  parties  to  the  cause,  w^as 
indecorous.  The  author  did  not  anticipate  that  he  had 
got  into  a  serious  scrape  by  the  publication,  extracts 
from  which,  given  in  the  Scotch  newspapers,  Avere  held, 
by  the  Scotch  judges  to  be  a  sort  of  contempt  of  court. 
On  June  29th  it  was  announced  that — "This  day  was 
published  the  third  edition  of  'Dorando.'  The  public 
may  be  assured  that  there  is  no  foundation  for  the 
report  that  warrants  are  issued  to  apprehend  the  author 
of  'Dorando.'"     Some  English  shorthand  writers,  who 

VOL.  I.  I 


114  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

liacl  come  to  Scotland  to  take  notes  of  the  case,  were 
much  ridiculed,  and  several  of  the  newspapers  were 
brouoht  before  the  court  on  two  charo;es.  We  find  that 
Mr.  Boswell  appeared  for  the  Advertiser,  and  drew  up 
a  sort  of  defence,  in  which  it  is  stated  that  "as  to  the 
letter  from  Berwick,  the  matter  stands  thus :  It  was 
a  thing  commonly  reported  in  town  that  a  set  of  short- 
hand writers  were  come  from  London  in  order  to  take 
notes  in  the  Douglas  cause.  Their  arrival  had  been 
mentioned,  and  a  humorous  description  of  their  gene- 
alogy and  characters  had  been  given,"  With  this 
so-called  "  humorous  description  "  Mr.  Boswell  had 
probably  something  to  do.  The  result  was,  however, 
the  disappearance  or  entire  suppression  of  "  Dorando,"  of 
which  I  have  never  been  able  to  find  a  copy,  and  which 
thus  met  with  the  same  fate  as  the  author's  extra- 
ordinary "  Ode  on  Slavery  "  to  be  described  later.  Lord 
Auchinleck  gave  his  judgment  in  the  case,  on  a  technical 
point,  in  his  own  characteristic  style.* 

*  We  may  quote  a  few  passages  wliicli  are  marked,  with,  tlie 
•dry  sarcastic  toucli  of  the  judge  :  ''  I  have  considered  the  cause 
Avith  all  the  attention  in  my  power,  and  am  not  at  all  surprized 
that  your  Lordships  should  differ  in  opinion  about  it,  when  1 
consider  the  immensity  of  the  proofs  and  the  long  laboured 
argument  iipon  these  proofs. 

"In  considering  this  cause,  I  endeavoured,  to  take  care  not 
to  be  as  it  were  drawn  off  at  the  tangent,  and  was  always  willing 
to  listen  to  any  further  evidence  that  could  be  got.  I  was  there- 
fore very  glad  to  have  Isabel  Walker  examined  again.  To  the 
■questions  Avhicli  I  thought  material,  this  witness  answered  pointedly 
and  distinctly ;  and  though  she  underwent  an  examination  of  two 
■days  from  the  plaintiff's,  with  the  sjiecial  \ie\v,  as  appeared,  of 
making  her  contradict  her  former  evidence,  yet,  except  in  one 
trifling  instance,  she  kept  her  temper  throughout  the  whole,  and 
had  to  me  so  strong  an  appearance  of  integrity,  that  I  do  believe 
that  every  thing  she  has  swore  is  agreeable  to  truth.  Before  I 
■enter  into  the  cause,  I  must  premise  a  few  general  observations. 
In  all  questions  about  filiation,  sceptical  people  may  have  oppor- 
tunities of  raising  abundance  of  doiibts.  .   .  . 


CALLED    TO    THE  BAB — THE  DOUGLAS   CAUSE.     115 

Boswell,  however,  did  not  confine  himself  to  the  mere 
decorous  fmictions  of   counsel  or  pleader.     His    antics 

"  These  are  tlie  general  principles  wliicli,  applied  to  this  ease, 
will,  in  my  opinion,  direct  the  decision  of  it.  However,  I  must 
observe  farther,  that  I  eonld  have  Avished  that  Ave  could  have  had 
a  more  full,  clear,  and  satisfying  evidence  than  we  have  :  and 
farther,  that  this  process  had  taken  rise  at  a  time  when  there  were 
no  bye  motives  to  bi-ing  it,  instead  of  its  being  brought  imme- 
diately after  the  defendant  had  defeated  Duke  Hamilton  in  point 
of  law.  I  own  that  I  cannot  get  out  of  my  view  the  method  in 
which  this  process  Avas  i-aised  and  conducted.  This  is  material, 
because  it  Avill  account  for  many  singularities  occurring  in  this 
cause.  Instead  of  applying  for  an.  act  and  commission  from  this 
Court  to  bring  a  proof  of  the  imposture,  the  plaintiffs  Avere  pleased 
to  bring  their  criminal  action  before  the  parliament  of  Paris,  and 
procured  a  monifoire  tmpnrfanf,  Avhich  treats  Sir  John  Stewart 
and  Mrs.  HcAvit  as  already  convicted  of  the  supposition  of  children  ; 
and  under  the  Avord  Quidam,  makes  the  thing  as  plain  as  if  they 
had  put  in  the  initials  of  their  names.  I  did  not  condemn  this 
process  before  the  Tournelle  because  it  Avas  unfashionable,  but 
because  it  was  unjust  and  oppressive  to  the  last  degree;  and  I 
think  I  can  give  pointed  evidence,  that  this  my  opinion  was  Avell 
founded.  I  shall  give  tAvo  or  three  instances  Avhich  Avill  sufficiently 
explain  Avhat  I  mean.  .  .  .  Madam  Sautry,  the  mantua-maker  at 
Rheims,  makes  strong  endeavours  to  disproA^e  the  pregnancy ;  she 
even  measures  Lady  Jane  to  make  sure  Avork  of  it.  When  we  look 
into  the  plainte  to  the  parliament  of  Paris,  they  appear  to  be 
satisfied  that  Lady  Jane  had  every  appearance  of  pregnancy  ;  but 
after  the  monitoire  appeared,  the  memories  of  the  Avitnesses  under- 
Avent  a  great  alteration  ;  some  of  them  being  very  much  Aveakened 
in  this  particular,  when  others  Avere  as  much  improved. 

"  Having  thus  taken  a  general  vieAV  of  the  proof  brought  by  the 
plaintiffs  in  this  cause,  I  have  only  to  add,  that  I  pay  no  great 
credit  either  to  the  books  of  Police,  or  to  those  of  the  Hotels  i\\ 
Paris.  The  plaintiffs  at  first  set  forth,  that  these  books  Avere 
infallibly  sure,  and  liable  to  no  errors  or  mistakes;  Avhereas  to 
me  it  really  appears  to  be  a  battle  of  books  betwixt  the  respective 
hotels. 

"  I  come  noAV  to  touch  shortly  upon  the  proof  of  the  alibi  at 
Mons.  Godofroi's  :  In  instructing  of  Avhich  I  think  the  plaintiffs 
have  totally  failed,  and  I  must  continue  to  think  so,  except  I  can 
believe  that  he  and  his  Avife  have  memories  superior  to  Joseph 
Scaligers.  They  haA'e,  indeed,  most  unaccountable  memories, 
according  to  their  oavii  account  of  the  matter;  for  they  CA-en 
remember  Avhat  coat  Sir  John  had  on  in  the  year  1748.  I  am, 
iiovvever,  unAvilling  to  believe  them  to  be  perjured,  but  I  believe 


IIG  LIFE   OF  JAiVES  BOS  WELL. 

and  excitement  almost  warranted  the  belief  of  liis  friends 
that  he  had  gone  mad  on  the  subject.  His  father  was 
heard  to  say,  in  his  own  cnrious  but  expressive  jargon, 
that  "  James  had  taken  a  tout  on  a  new  horn ;"  and  Mr. 
Eamsay,  his  father's  intimate  friend,  declared  that  his 
behaviour  reached  a  degree  of  intemperance  and  absurdity 
that  was  incredible. 

"  When  he  heard  that  the  House  of  Lords  had 
reversed  the  decision  of  the  Court  of  Sessions,  it  was  said 
that  he  put  himself  at  the  head  of  an  uproarious  mob  which 
broke  the  judge's  windows  and  insulted  them.  He  was 
now  really  thought  to  be  mad  or  "  daft,"  and  his  father, 
with  tears  in  his  eyes,  entreated  the  president  to  commit 
him  to  the  Tolbooth.  He  was  brought  before  the  sheriff 
to  be  examined,  and  thus  told  the  story  of  his  doings  : — 
"  After  I  had  communicated  the  glorious  news  to  my 
father,  who  received  them  very  coolly,  I  went  to  the 
Cross  to  see  what  was  goini);'  on.  There  I  overheard  a 
group  of  fellows  forming  this  plan  of  operations.  One 
of  them  asked  what  sort  of  a  man  the  sheriff  was,  and 
whether  he  was  not  to  be  dreaded.  '  No,  no,'  said 
another  fellow,  '  he  is  a  puppet  of  the  president's 
making.'  "  Once  Mr.  Stewart  Moncrieff  started  up  and 
exclaimed,  "  By  my  soul,  Boswell,  you're  mad  !  "  "  Sir,"" 
answered  the  other,   "  swear  by  your  £G0,000,  by  your 

tbat  they  had  their  memories  refreshed  bj'  the  monitoire,  as  many 
others  seemed  to  have  had  theirs  weakened  by  it.  They  have- 
been  misled  by  their  books,  which  they  think  all  A-ery  accurate,, 
though  it  is  proved  to  demonstration  they  are  liable  to  many  errors 
and  mistakes.  And  because  they  had  marked  Sir  John  Stewart's 
name  in  the  Livre  cVInspedeur,  therefore  they  take  up  an  appre- 
hension that  the  hlank  article  of  the  4th  of  Jul}',  in  their  Livre 
d'epence,  relates  to  him  and  Lady  Jane  and  Mrs.  Hewit. 

"  Upon  the  whole,  my  opinion  is,  that  as  the  defendant  is  now 
in  complete  possession  of  his  estate ;  and  as  the  evidence  against 
him  is  neither  unsuspicious  nor  conclusive,  that  therefore  he  falls, 
to  be  assoilzied," 


CALLED    TO    THE  BAR — THE  DOUGLAS   CAUSE.    117 

ice  house,  by  yoiu-  peacli  and  grape  bouses,  but  do  not 
swear  by  what  you  vahTe  so  Httle  as  your  soul."  There 
was  some  wit  in  this  madness,  but  the  probability  was 
that  "  Bozzy  "  had  been  celebrating  the  victory  in  stoups 
of  wine. 

One  of  the  most  singular  and  unfiivourable  traits  in 
Boswell's  character  was  the  delight  he  found  in  an 
embarrassment  which  most  men  are  eager  to  avoid — viz. 
controversy  with  women.  Mr.  Boswell  entered  on 
these  conflicts  in  rather  an  unchivalrous  spirit,  allowing 
no  privilege  on  account  of  sex  or  age,  and  dealing  his 
"swashing  blows  "with  malice,  and  even  spite.  This 
seems  rather  unchivalrous,  but  it  can  be  supported  by 
instances  w^hich  readily  recur  to  the  memory ;  such  as 
his  treatment  of  Mrs.  Thrale,  of  Miss  Seward,  of  Mrs. 
Montagu,  when  those  ladies,  even  if  they  had  offended, 
were  entitled  to  courteous  treatment.  It  must  be  said, 
however,  that  this  idea  never  even  seems  to  have  occurred 
to  him,  and  that  it  was  his  established  principle  that  any 
one  who  interfered  with  him  or  his  books  was  his  mortal 
enemy,  whether  male  or  female.  Thus,  during  the 
progress  of  the  cause,  an  amusing  and  angry  discussion 
arose  between  him  and  a  venerable  Scotch  lady,  the 
Honourable  Miss  Primrose,  whose  age  and  rank  should 
have  entitled  her  to  proper  consideration.  As  he  w^as 
now  writing  the  "  Essence  of  the  Douglas  Cause,"  and 
had  established  himself  as  a  notable  personage,  the 
notable  friend,  too,  of  "the  great  Lexicographer,"  he 
was  not  to  be  trifled  with,  or  contradicted. 

The  offence  of  the  lady  was  this.  In  her  evidence  at 
the  trial  she  had  spoken  of  a  conversation  recounted  to 
her  by  her  mother,  the  Dowager  Lady  Stair,  and  which 
had  taken  place  between  her  and  Lady  Jane  Douglas. 
On  this  point  a  daughter  might  naturally  claim  to  speak. 


118  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

But,  no  ;  Mr.  Boswell,  in  liis  "  Essence,"  took  upon  himself 
to  declare  tliat  "he  was  assured  that  there  were  several 
persons  of  good  character  still  alive,  who  had  heard 
Lady  Stair  tell  Miss  Primrose  that  she  was  mistaken, 
and  that  this  account  was  given,  not  by  Lady  Jane, 
but  by  another  person."  The  form  of  this  contradiction 
was  certainly  offensive,  and  Miss  Primrose,  thus  rudely 
challenged,  wrote  haughtily,  but  with  spirit,  to  demand 
the  names  of  "those  persons  of  good  character"  upon 
whose  authority  he  rested  his  assertion :  "  otherwise  I 
must  hold  him  to  be  the  original  author  of  the  averment." 
This  insinuation  Mr.  Boswell  had  brought  on  himself. 
His  answer  was  characteristic.  ".The  Anthor  of  '  The 
Essence  of  the  Douglas  Cause,'  presents  his  compliments 
to  the  Honourable  Miss  Margaret  Primrose.  That  lady 
must  be  sensible  that  the  story  she  has  introduced  into 
her  deposition  is  exceedinglu  improbable.  Lady  Jane 
Douglas  has  surely  more  good  sense  than  to  give  a 
different  account  to  Lady  Stair  from  that  which  she 
gave  to  every  one  else.  He  hopes  that,  upon  due 
recollection,  Mrs.  Primrose  will  be  satisfied  that  either 
her  hearing,  or  her  memor}j  has  failed  her.  .  .  .  He 
thinks  this  matter  too  serious  to  be  discussed  in  a 
newspaper,  but  if  he  be  called  upon  in  proper  manner 
Mrs.  Primrose  shall  know  his  authority." 

Boswell  here  felt  himself  in  a  difficulty,  and  his  rude 
speech  as  to  the  failure  of  the  lady's  mind  or  memory 
was  prompted  by  either  annoyance  or  malice.  The  lady 
was  one  of  those  sturdy  Scotch  dames  whose  shrewd 
faces  are  seen  on  Eaeburn's  canvases,  and  was  not  to  be 
trifled  with  or  intimidated  ;  so  no  satisfaction  was  to  be 
obtained  for  the  slippery  Boswell  in  this  way.  Mrs. 
Primrose  now  sent  a  friend  to  him  to  ask  his  authority 
for  his  statement,  uj^on  which  the  friend  was  informed 


CALLED    TO    THE  BAR — THE  DOUGLAS   CAUSE.    119' 

"  that  Mr.  Boswcll  declined  giving  liis  authority  when 
privately  called  upon,  but  was  willing  to  do  so  if  asked 
in  a  public  manner."  "  Finding,"  the  lady  goes  on, 
"  that  a  private  answer  was  avoided,  I  publicl}' demanded 
one,  and  am  now  told  that  I  shall  receive  an  answer 
when  my  demand  is  made  in  a  proper  form.  To  this 
demand  I  received  an  answer  that  the  proper  form  was 
an  action  for  defamation."  This  course  she  declined  to 
take  :  "  I  therefore  end  with  him  thus  ;  that  if  he  persists 
in  keeping  up  his  supposed  authority  I  must  and  will 
consider  him  as  the  original  author  of  the  averment 
himself."  Mr.  Boswell  was  not  to  be  thus  disposed  of 
and  took  refuge  in  fresh  personalities.  "  Mrs.  Margaret 
Primrose,"  he  wrote  in  reply,  "is  pleased  to  think  she 
has  ended  with  the  author  of  '  Essence,  etc'  But  the 
lady  will  find  herself  in  a  mistake  here,  too.  She  says 
that  she  received  a  verbal  answer  from  me.  But  it  is 
not  fiiir  in  her  to  represent  me  as  a  man  who  would  be 
impolite  enough  not  to  answer  a  lady's  letter  in  writing. 
The  truth  is,  I  did  write  her  an  answer  ;  I  am  sure  she 
received  it ;  and  I  own  her  forQ-ettins;  so  recent  a  cir- 
cumstance,  gives  me  a  worse  opinion  of  Mrs.  Margaret 
Primrose's  memory  than  I  had  before.  A  lady  of  her 
years  should  be  cautious  in  relying  too  positively  on 
either  her  hearing  or  memory,  when  she  is  assured  both 
in  public  and  private  that  her  own  mother  told  her  she 
was  in  a  mistake.  I  am  sure  I  mentioned  it  in  a  most 
delicate  manner ;  and  wished  it  might  remain  so,  but 
since  she  insists  for  it,  here  is  my  authority  under  her 
Grace  the  Duchess  of  Douglas'  own  hand ; "  and  he 
quotes  a  long  letter  to  this  effect  from  the  duchess.  He 
signs  his  letter,  "  with  great  esteem."  Miss  Primrose 
replied,  making  little  of  the  duchess's  testimony,  and 
reasserting  her  own.     She  then  concluded   by  saying. 


120  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

*'  Mr.  Boswell  need  not  be  alarmed  at  any  imputation  on 
his  politeness.  Those  who  have  read  the  whole  of  his 
correspondence  must  do  him  justice  in  this  respect,  in 
which  j\Irs.  Primrose  does  not  intend  to  vie  with  him  ; 
nor  will  she  trouble  herself  or  the  public  with  anything 
further  he  or  any  other  person  shall  please  to  say  on  the 
subject,  since  she  has  obtained  her  end  of  knowing  his 
authority." 

But   ]Mr.  Boswell  was  determined  to  have  the  last 
word.     He  had  perused  her  last  and  long  defence.     He 
is  sorry,  very  sorry,  to  find  that  she  still  persists  in  wdiat 
lie  has  gently  endeavoured  to  correct ;  for  he  defies  the 
lady  to  point  out  any  mark  of  displeasure  which  he  has 
shown.      "  If  any  persons  have  instigated  Mrs.  Margaret 
Primrose  to  exhibit  herself  in  the  newsjDapers,"  he  will 
be  pardoned  in  saying  "they  are  not  her  friends,  what- 
ever flattering  speeches  they  may  have  found  means  to 
make  her  hear.     As    a   real  friend,  the  author  of  the 
'  Essence '    would    beo-   of   Mrs.  Primrose    to    consider 
calmly  by  herself  the  unhappy  eftcct  of  what  she  has 
deposed.     It  throws  an  imputation  upon  the  memory  of 
her  worthy  mother.   .  .  .  The  author  of  the  '  Essence'  is 
happy  that  Mrs.  Margaret  has  now  recollected  that  she 
received  a  letter  from  him.     He  trusts  that  in  time  she 
Avill  also  recollect  all  that  her  o-race  the  Duchess  of  Douglas 
has  so  distinctly  related.     If  that  shall  be  the  case,  and  he 
shall  presume  to  advise  one  who  thinks  she  has  a  much 
better  adviser,  he  would  beg  leave  to  suggest  that  a  public 
recantation  would  be  the  best  atonement.     Mrs.  Prim- 
rose  has   declared  that  she  will  not   again   make  any 
answ^er  ;  it  will  give  the  author  of  the   '  Essence  '  much 
satisfaction  if  she  still  find  herself  obliged  to  alter  her 
resolution,  as  such  a  reea,ntation  is  the  answer  which  he 
hoj^es  to  receive." 


CALLED    TO    THE  BAR — THE   DOUGLAS   CAUSE.    121 

This  Lroiiii'lit  tlie  series  of  liis  exhibitions,  durino'  the 
DouijLis  cause,  to  a  conclusion.  Indeed,  durinu'  these 
years,  ahnost  every  transaction  in  which  Boswell  figured 
Avas  to  be  marked  by  some  exhibition  of  curious 
extravagance. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  17G8  was  published  the 
*'  Tour  in  (Wsica " — which  at  once  gave  its  author 
celebrity.  He  was  spoken  of  in  tlie  papers  as  "  Mr. 
Boswell,  the  celebrated  traveller."  As  he  tells  us  himself, 
in  his  little  memoir  :  "  This  Avork  is  universally  known 
as  having  not  only  passed  through  several  editions  in 
English,  but  been  translated  into  Dutch,  German, 
Italian,*  and  twice  into  French."  Even  the  stern 
Johnson  jDi'^iises  it  in  a  letter  to  the  author.  It  was 
admitted  that  his  historical  portion  is  so  much 
*' padding;"  but  his  travels  are  told  with  spirit.  For 
the  book  he  received  a  hundred  guineas. 

He  was  indeed  so  eager  to  acquire  notoriety  for  himself 
and  his  book,  that  he  resorted  to  some  extraordinary 
devices  for  the  purpose.  It  is  curious  to  see  how  some 
experienced  judges  of  men  had  already  taken  the 
measure  of  his  foolishness.  Mr.  AYalpole  gives  a  strange 
iiccount  of  these  antics,  and,  in  a  letter  to  Gray,  of 
the  18th  of  February,  17G8,  writes  :  "  Pray  read 
the  new  account  of  Corsica ;  what  relates  to  Paoli  will 
amuse  you  much.  There  is  a  deal  about  the  island  and 
its  dimensions  that  one  does  not  care  a  straw  for.  The 
jiuthor,  Boswell,  is  a  strange  being,  and,  like  Cambridge, 
has  a  rage  of  knowing  anybody  that  was  ever  talked  of. 
He  forced  himself  upon  me  in  spite  of  my  teeth  and  my 

*  It  would  have  gratified  tlie  author  to  know  that  just  one 
hundred  and  one  years  after  the  first  issue  a  new  translation, 
should  have  been  issued,  '"  Relazioni  della  Corsica,  di  Gr.  Boswell, 
Scudiere,  transportata  in  Italiauo,  dall'  originale  Inglese."  London, 
1869. 


122  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

doors,  and  I  sec  lias  given  a  foolish  account  of  all  lie 
could  pick  up  from  me  about  King  Theodore.  He  then 
took  an  antipathy  to  me  on  Rousseau's  account,  abused 
me  in  the  newspapers,  and  expected  Rousseau  to  do  sa 
too ;  but  as  he  came  to  see  me  no  more,  I  forgave 
all  the  rest.  I  see  he  is  now  a  little  sick  of  Rousseau 
himself,  but  I  hope  it  will  not  cure  him  of  his  anger  tO' 
me ;  however,  his  book  will  amuse  you."  Gray's  reply 
is  equally  contemptuous  :  "  Mr.  Boswell's  book  I  was 
going  to  recommend  to  you  when  I  received  your  letter. 
It  has  pleased  and  moved  me  strangely — all  (I  mean) 
that  relates  to  Paoli.  .  .  .  The  pamphlet  proves  what 
I  have  always  maintained,  that  any  fool  may  write 
a  most  valuable  book  by  chance,  if  he  will  only  tell  us 
what  he  heard  and  said  with  veracity.  Of  Mr.  Boswell's 
truth  I  have  not  the  least  suspicion,  because  I  am  sure 
he  could  invent  nothing  of  the  kind.  The  title  of  this 
part  of  his  work  is  a  dialogue  between  a  Green  Goose 
and  a  Hero."  *  This  seems  offensive  enough ;  but  the 
theory  as  to  a  fool  writing  a  good  book  by  chance,  can 
scarcely  be  supported. 

In'  this  publication  he  contrived  to  offend  Johnson, 
who  was  displeased  at  his  publishing  his  letters,  in  which 
were  some  rather  too  extravagant  expressions  of  regard. 
"  All  that  you  have  to  fear  from  me  is  the  vexation  of 

*  The  Avork  was  printed  at  Edinburgh  at  the  famous  press  of 
Eoulis  brothers,  who,  howevei",  produced  a  rather  unfavourable 
specimen  of  their  workmanship.  The  second  edition  was 
printed  in  more  handsome  style  by  the  Baldwins,  and  published 
by  the  Dillys,  who  were  to  issue  the  author's  other  works.  In  the 
preface  he  sets  out  some  notions  about  spelling,  declaring  that 
the  letter  7.-,  after  c,  should  be  i-estoi-ed  (as  in  "  publick  "),  and  u  in 
words  like  "  labour ;"  though  he  could  hardly  thus  justify  such 
spelling  as  "  tremenduous."  There  is  a  beautifully  engraved  device 
of  his  arms,  etc.,  on  the  title — a  decoration  which  also  adorns  the 
Hebrides  "  Tour." 


CALLED    TO    THE  BAB — THE  DOUGLAS   CAUSE.     12 


<> 


(lisappointmcut.  .  .  .  the  pleasiu-c  which  I  promised  my- 
self from  the  journals  and  remarks  is  so  great,  that 
perhaps  no  degree  of  attention  or  desirement  will  be 
sufficient  to  it.  ...  I  long  to  see  you,  etc."  This  over- 
charged estimate  made  the  sage  appear  rather  ridiculous, 
especially  when  Boswell's  antics  were  attracting  notoriety. 
Johnson  wrote  to  him  a  little  testily  :  "  I  could  now  tell 
why  I  should  not  write  ;  for  who  would  write  to  men 
who  publish  the  letters  of  their  friends,  without  their 
leave  ?  Yet  I  write  to  you  in  spite  of  my  caution, 
to  tell  you  that  I  shall  be  glad  to  see  you,  and  that 
I  wish  you  would  empty  your  head  of  Corsica,  which 
1  think  has  filled  it  rather  too  louo-." 

"  My  dear  Sir,"  was  the  reply, — "  1  have  received 
your  last  letter,  which,  though  very  short,  and  by  no 
means  complimentary,  yet  gave  me  real  pleasure,  because 
it  contains  these  words,  '  1  shall  be  glad,  very  glad,  to 
see  you.' — Surely  you  have  no  reason  to  complain  of  my 
publishing  a  single  paragraph  of  one  of  your  letters  ;  the 
temptation  to  it  was  so  strong.  An  irrevocable  grant  of 
your  friendship,  and  your  signifying  my  desire  of  visiting 
Corsica  with  the  epithet  of  *a  wise  and  noble  curiosity,' 
are  to  me  more  valuable  than  many  of  the  grants  of 
kings.  But  how  can  you  bid  me  '  empty  my  head 
of  Corsica  '  ?  My  noble-minded  friend,  do  you  not  feel 
for  an  oppressed  nation  bravely  struggling  to  be 
free  ? "  etc.,  etc. 

"The  celebrated  traveller "  was  now  recherche,  and 
made  much  of, — "  I  am  really  the  great  man  now,"  he  tells 
us.  "  I  have  had  David  Hume  in  the  forenoon,  and  Mr. 
Johnson  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  visiting  me. 
Sir  John  Pringle,  Dr.  Franklin,  and  some  more  company, 
dined  with  me  to-day  ;  and  Mr.  Johnson  and  General 
Oglethorpe    one    day,   Mr.  Garrick  alone   another,  and 


124  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

David  Hume  and  some  more  literati  dine  with  me  next 
week.  I  give  admirable  dinners  and  good  claret ;  and 
the  moment  I  go  abroad  again,  which  will  be  in  a  day 
or  two,  I  set  up  my  chariot.  This  is  enjoying  the  fruit 
of  my  labours,  and  appearing  like  the  friend  of  Paoli. 
By-the-bye,  the  Earl  of  Pembroke  and  Captain  Meadows 
are  just  setting  out  for  Corsica,  and  I  have  the  honour  of 
introducing  them  by  letter  to  the  General.  David  Hume 
came  on  purpose  the  other  day  to  tell  me  that  the  Duke 
of  Bedford  was  very  fond  of  my  book,  and  had  recom- 
mended it  to  the  Duchess." 

His  lodgings  were  in  Half-moon  Street,  and  he  was 
particularly  gratified  when  the  venerable  General 
Oglethorpe,  who  recollected  having  shot  snipe  in  one  of 
the  London  squares,  came  and  called  on  him,  thus 
introducing  himself:  "My  name,  sir,  is  Oglethorpe,  and 
I  wish  to  be  acquainted  with  you."  Boswell,  well  read 
always,  recalled  Pope's  lines  on  the  general,  and  made  so 
favourable  an  impression,  that  a  cover  was  always  kept 
for  him  at  the  old  man's  table.  Incidents  of  that  stirring 
career  were  related  to  him,  and  he  seriously  proposed 
writing  his  life.  There  was  always  something  winning 
in  Bos  well's  nature.     He  was  a  "  ojood  fellow."  * 

*  He,  however,  did  not  remove  the  passages  from  Johnson's 
letters,  in  his  later  editions.  He  was  always  thus  sturdy  in 
Jiolding  by  the  text  he  had  at  first  set  down,  as  being-  "  authentick." 


(  y^'^  ) 


CHAPTER  XI. 


BOSWELL's    "  LOVES." 


A  EEMARKABLE  feature  ill  tins  curiously  blended  character 
was  an  extreme  susceptibility  to  the  charms  of  the  other 
sex.  In  one  of  his  efiusions  he  frankly  confessed  that 
"  Boswell  doth  women  adore  ; "  and  all  through  his  life 
he  seemed  to  be  passing  from  one  attachment  to  another, 
each  being,  as  in  the  case  of  the  amusing  character  in  a 
modern  farce,  "  the  only  woman  he  ever  loved." 

This  "volatility"  furnishes  many  entertaining  pas- 
sages in  his  life  ;  as  his  vanity  or  impulsiveness  made 
him  take  most  of  his  friends  into  his  confidence.  At  the 
same  time  it  must  be  said,  that  no  very  venial  or 
indulgent  view  can  be  taken  of  such  passages,  and,  to 
speak  plainly,  Mr.  Boswell  lived  ji  loose  and  dissipated 
life.  There  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  he  shortened  his 
days  by  his  indulgence  in  general  debauchery.  The 
melancholy  view  is  that  he  had  really  good  and  moral 
and  religious  instincts,  and  these,  too,  not  merely  senti- 
mental, but,  at  times,  earnest ;  he  was  even  devout,  but 
unhappily  so  enslaved  to  pleasure  that  he  seems  to  have 
made  little  attempt  to  conform  to  what  his  principles 
and  conscience  prescribed.  In  process  of  time,  he,  as  it 
were,  gave  himself  a  letter  of  licence,  as  a  privileged 
person,  pleading  the  "  weakness  of  the  flesh,"  and  could 
preach  morality  and  talk  of  his  own  vices  in  the  same 


12G  LIFE   OF  JAMES   BO  SWELL. 

breath.  It  may  be  doubted  if  tliere  is  anything  in  all 
the  writings  of  the  satirists  comparable  to  this  letter  of 
his,  addressed  to  the  Eev.  j\Ir.  Temple  : — 

"  This   is    just,    Temple.     You    say   the    truths    of 
morality  are  written  in  the  hearts  of  all  men,  and  they 
find  it  their  interest  to  practise  them.     My  dear  friend, 
will  you  believe  a  specious  moral  essayist  against  your 
own  experience  ?     Don't   you  in  the  very  same  letter 
complain  of  the  wickedness  of  those  around  you  ?     Don't 
you  talk  of  the  tares  in  society  ?     My  friend,  it  is  3^our 
office   to   labour    cheerfully   in    the    vineyard,    and,    if 
possible,  to  leave  not  a  tare   in  Mamhead.     Let  us  be 
moderate,  patient,  expect  a  gradual  progress  of  refine- 
ment and  felicity  ;  in  that  hope  I  look  up  to  the  Lord  of 
the  Universe,  with  a  grateful  rememln-ance  of  the  grand 
and   mysterious    propitiation   which    Christianity   hath 
announced.  .  .  ."     This,  so  far,  is  edifying  ;  but  presently 
we  are  startled ;  for,  after  giving  an  outline  of  bachelor 
life  and  its  advantages,  he  proceeds  to  tell  his  friend  that, 
in  certain  cases  "  marriage  is  truly  the  condition  in  which 
true  felicity  is  to  be  found.     I  think  we  may  strike  a 
good  medium.     Let  us  keep  in  mind  the  nil  admirari, 
and  not  expect  too  much.     It  was  from  having  too  high 
expectations  of  enjoyment  that  I  suffered  so  much,  for 
the   natural  gloom  of  my  mind  was   not  sufficient  to 
torment  me  in  a  degree  so  acute.     In  the  meantime,  my 
friend,  I  am  happy  enough  to  have  a  dear  infidel,  as 
you  say ;    but  don't   think  her    unfaithful,  I  could   not 
love  her  if  she  was.     There  is  a  baseness  in  all  deceit 
which  my  soul  is  virtuous  enough  to  abhor,  and  there- 
fore I  look  with  horror  on  adultery.     But  my  amiable 
mistress  is  no  longer  bound  to  him  who  was  her  husband  ; 
he  has  used  her  shockingly  ill ;  he  has  deserted  her,  he 
lives  with  another.     Is  she  not  then  free  ?     She  is,  it  is 


no  SWELL'S  "LOVES."  127 

clear,  and  no  arguments  can  disguise  it.  She  has  done 
everything  to  i)lease  me ;  she  is  perfectly  generous,  and 
would  not  hear  of  any  present." 

The  two  friends,  Bosvvell  and  Temple,  were  scarcely 
model  husbands.  Temple  married  a  lady  with  £1,300 
as  her  fortune,  but  tlie  marriage  did  not  turn  out 
happily,  and  a  separation  took  place.  He  was  a  most 
unhappy  person,  subject  to  fits  of  depression,  like  his 
friend,  and  always  in  some  sort  of  difficulty  or  wretched- 
ness. He  had  much  the  same  mixture  of  piety  and 
dissipation  that  was  found  in  Boswell.  This  friendship 
continued  to  the  last  days  of  Boswell's  life,  and  their 
correspondence  was  never  interrupted  for  thirty-seven 
years.* 

The  history  of  the  long  series  of  Boswell's  more 
legitimate  attachments  is  amusing  enough.  It  would  be 
difficult  enough  to  count  up  his  innumerable  "  Flames  ; " 
and  in  this  he  recalls  Mr.  Sterne,  who  so  candidly  con- 
fessed that,  for  his  comfort  and  enjoyment,  "he  must 
■ever  have  some  Dulcinca  in  his  head."  Boswell  began 
early,  when  he  was  a  student  at  the  University,  and  Avas 
only  eighteen  when  he  fell  distractedly  in  love  with  Miss 

W 1 ;  and  now,  only  a  year  ago,  in  17G7,  he  had 

conceived  a  "  grande  passion"  for  a  gardener's  daughter, 
"  who  now  puts  on  my  fire  and  performs  menial  offices, 
like  another  wench  ;  and  yet,  this  time  twelve  months,  I 
was  so  madly  in  love  as  to  think  of  marrying  her."  This 
folly  seems  incredible  in  a  man  who  had  seen  something 
of  the  world. 

Embarrassed  as  he  was  with  these  various  "charmers," 

this   mercurial   being    had    now    seriously    planned    a 

reo-ular  matrimonial  venture.     He  first  thought  of  his 

<i0usin,  ]\Iiss  Bosville,  in  Yorkshire ;  but  there  was  one 

*  The  present  Bishop  of  London  is  his  grandson. 


128  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOS  WELL. 

objection,  as  lie  complacently  fancied, — she  would  not  liko 
to  live  in  Scotland.     "I  shall  see.     There  is  a  young  lady 
in  the  neighbourhood  here  who  has    an   estate  of  her 
own,    between   two    and   three    hundred    a  year,    just 
eighteen,  a  genteel  person,  an  agreeable  face,  of  a  good 
family,  sensible,    good-tempered,  cheerful,  pious.     You 
know  my  grand  object  is  the  ancient  family  of  Auchin- 
leck — a  venerable  and  noble  principle.     How  would  it 
do  to  conclude  an  alliance  with  the  neighbouring  princess, 
and  add  her  lands  to  our  dominions  ?     I  should  at  once 
have  a  very  pretty  little  estate,  a  good  house,  and  a  sweet 
place.     My  father  is  very  fond  of  her ;  it  would  make 
him  perfectly  happy  :  he  gives  me  hints  in  this  way: — 
'  I  wish  you  had  her — no  bad  scheme  this ;  I  think,  a 
very  good  one.'     My  fair  neighbour  was  a  ward  of  my 
father's  :  she  sits  in  our  seat  at  church  in  Edinburgh." 
This  new  flame  was  ]\Iiss  Blair,  to  whom  he  mio-ht  have 
been  married,  had   he  only  behaved  like  a  reasonable 
being.     Mr.  Boswell's  imaginary  advances,  his   fits    of 
heat  and  cold,  renouncings  and  renewals,  are  like  scenes, 
in  one  of  the  old  comedies.      He  once  despatched   his 
friend   on   a    mission   to   rej^ort,    to    praise    him,    and 
stimulate  the  lady's  feelings  in  every  way.     "  Temple," 
he  wrote,   "you  must  be  at  Auchiuleck,  you  must  see 
my  charming  hridc  !  "     To  make  himself  worthy  of  his 
princess,  he  had  altogether  reformed.     But  in  drinking 
his  princess's  health  he  got  intoxicated,  and  in  that  state 
committed   all    sorts  of  follies   and    extravaoances,  for 
which,  of  course,  he  was  deeply  repentant.     "  But  I  am 
abashed,  and  determine  to  keep  the  strictest  watch."     He 
gave  his  friend  a  paper  of  directions,  which  is  amusing 
reading.     When  Mr.  Temple  arrived  he  was  to  present 
the  letter.     "  Salute  her  and  her  mother  ;  ask  to  walk. 
See  the  place  fully ;  think  what  improvements  should 


no  SWELL'S  "LovEsr  129 

be  made.  Talk  of  my  mare,  the  purse,  the  chocolate. 
Tell,  you  are  my  very  old  and  intimate  friend.  Praise 
me  for  my  good  qualities — you  know  them ;  but  talk 
also  how  odd,  how  inconstant,  how  impetuous,  how 
much  accustomed  to  women  of  intrigue.  Ask  gravely, 
'  Pray  don't  you  imagine  there  is  something  of  madness 
in  that  family  ? '  Talk  of  my  various  travels — German 
princes — Voltaire  and  Eousseau.  Talk  of  my  father  ; 
my  strong  desire  to  have  my  own  house.  Observe  her 
well.  See,  how  amiable  !  Judge  if  she  would  be  happy 
with  your  friend.  Think  of  me  as  the  great  man  at 
Adamtown — quite  classical  too  !  Study  the  mother. 
Remember  well  what  passes."  Temple  duly  returned 
to  Edinburgh,  after  his  mission  was  accomplished,  and 
reported  in  glowing  terms.  Boswell  wrote  to  the  lady 
in  raptures,  telling  her  how  charmed  his  emissary  was, 
who  "  would  not  be  able  to  write  without  saying  some 
fine  thing  of  her."  No  notice  was  taken  of  these  com- 
pliments. "  What  can  be  the  matter  ?"  he  ^vrote,  "  Prob- 
ably the  letter  you  carried  was  thought  too  strange 
and  distant  for  any  rational  scheme."  But  there  were 
some  grounds  for  this  uneasiness.  A  rival,  a  returned 
Indian,  "  a  yellow  Nabob,"  Mr.  Fullerton,  had  been  hang- 
ins;  about  the  heiress.  Thus  slicrhted,  he  bes^an  to 
discover  that  the  grapes  were  sour.  "  I  am  curious  to 
see  how  this  matter  will  turn  out.  The  mare,  the  purse, 
the  chocolate^  ivhere  are  theij  now  ?  I  am  certainly  not  ' 
deeply  in  love,  for  I  am  entertained  with  this  dilemma, 
like  another  chapter  in  my  adventures."  Another  idea  : 
could  she  have  been  offended  by  ''his  Spanish  state- 
liness  "  ?  It  turned  out,  however,  that  his  letters  had 
been  lying  eight  days  at  the  post,  as  she  told  him,  in  a 
"most  agreeable  letter."  He  was  again  full  of  exulta- 
tion.    It   was    all    settled.     "  My   old    and    estimable 

VOL.  I.  K 


130  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOS  WELL. 

friend,  can  I  do  hettcr  ?  Can  you  suppose  any  woman 
in  Britain  with  wliom  mere  circumstances  could  unite  to 
engage  me  ?  All  objections  arise  from  my  own  fault," 
could  he  humbly  ask  so  fine  a  woman  ;  etc. 

Now  came  a  slight  "  cool ; "  or  the  lady  would  not 
respond  to  the  raptures   of  her  strange  lover.     In  his 
rhapsody  he  showed  "  his  heart  upon  his  sleeve."     "How- 
ever, I  would  not  be  too  sullen  in  my  pride  ;  I  wrote  to 
her   from   Auchinleck,    and   wished  her  joy,  etc. ;  she 
answered  me,  with  the  same  ease  as  ever,  that  I  had  no 
occasion.     I  then  wrote  her  a  strange  Sidtanish  letter, 
very  cold  and  very  formal,  and  did  not  go  to  see  her  for 
near  three  weeks.     At  last  I  am  here,  and  our  meeting- 
has  been  such  as  you  paint  in  your  last  but  one.     I  have 
been   here    one    night  ;    she    insisted    on    my   staying 
another.     If  — — -  has  been  uneasy  on  my  account,  I  am 
indeed  sorry  for  it ;  I  should  be  sorry  to  give  any  person 
uneasiness,  far  more  one  whose  cousin  and  friend  I  shall 
always  be."     She  refused  sending  me  the  lock, '  because 
(in  the  eyes  of  the  world)  it  is  improper ; '  and  she  says 
very  cool  things  upon  that  head.     What  think  you  of 
such  a  return  to  a  letter  full  of  warmth  and  admiration  ': 
In  short.  Temple,  she  is  cunning,  and  sees  my  weakness. 
But  I  now  see    her,   and  though  I  cannot   but  suffer 
severely,  I  from  this  moment  resolve  to  think  no  more  of 
her.     I  send  you  the  copy  of  a  note  which  goes  to  her 
to-morrow  morning.   .  .  .  Wish  me  joy,  my  good  friend, 
of  havino;  discovered  the  snake  before  it  was  too  late.      / 
shoidd  have  been  ridned  had  I  made  such  a  woman  my 
wife.     Luckily  for  me,  a  neighbour  who  came  to  Auchin- 
leck last  night  told  me  that  he  had  heard  three  people 
at  Ayr  agree  in  abusing  her  as  a  jilt.      What  a  risk  have 
I  run !     However,  as  there  is  still  a  possibility  that  all 
this  may  be  mistake  and  malice,  I  shall  behave  to  her  in 


BO  SWELL'S  ''loves:'  131 

a  very  respectful  mauncr,  and  shall  never  say  a  ivord 
against  her  but  to  you.  After  this,  I  shall  ho,  upon  my 
o;uard  against  ever  induloiuo-  the  least  fondness  for  a 
Scots  lass  ;  I  am  a  soul  of  a  more  southern  frame." 

With  all  this  exquisite  absurdity,  there  are  touches 
of  nature,  and  good  heart,  and  it  would  be  hard  to 
resist  the  credulous  affection  of  the  opening  passages 
in  which  he  pictures  his  friend's  face  as  he  receives  the 
news.  The  truth  was,  his  style  of  approaching  the  lady, 
or  of  manao-ino-  his  suit,  was  intolerable  and  maladroit. 
He  told  her  that  he  had  complained  of  her  to  his  friends  ; 
"  but  she  did  not  appear  in  the  least  inclined  to  confess 
herself  in  the  wrong."  "  I  confess,"  he  added  naturally 
enough,  "that,  between  pride  and  love,  I  was  unable  to 
speak  to  her  but  in  a  very  awkward  manner."  He 
came  away  and  wrote ;  but  was  answered  in  very 
indifferent  fashion  :  "  She  could  not  see  she  was  to 
blame."  "  I  love  her,  Temple,  with  my  whole  heart ; 
I  am  entirely  in  her  power.  If  she  writes  as  I  can 
imagine,  I  will  consecrate  myself  to  her  for  ever.  I 
must  have  her  to  learn  the  harpsichord  and  French  ;  she 
shall  be  one  of  the  first  women  in  the  island.  But  let 
me  take  care  ;  I  know  not  what  is  in  store.  Do  you 
think  it  possible  she  can  have  any  scheme  of  marrying 
another  ? " 

A  new  period  of  jealousy  and  uncertainty  was  now 
to  follow.  He  met  her  at  the  concerts  at  Edinburgh  ; 
went  to  the  play  with  her.  "It  was  'Othello.'  /  sat 
close  behind  the  Princess,  and  at  the  tnost  affecting 
scenes  I  pressed  my  hand  upon  her  waist;  she  ivas  in 
tears,  and  rather  leaned  to  me.  The  jealous  Moor 
described  my  very  soul.  1  often  spoke  to  her  of  the 
torment  she  saw  before  her ;  still  I  thought  her  distant, 
and  still  I  felt  uneasy." 


132  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

The  truth  was,  the  family  could  not  "make  out" 
the  lover's  uncertain,  capricious  behaviour  ;  and  a  cousin 
of  his  flame  told  him  seriously  that  he  was  not  be- 
having very  honourably  in  trying  to  engage  the  young- 
lady's  affections,  while  keeping  himself  free.  An  inter- 
view followed,  in  which  he  was  treated  coldly  and  with 
reserve.  She  told  him  she  liked  another  gentleman. 
It  ended  by  her  going  away  for  three  weeks ;  and  she 
said  that  she  knew  well  how  to  amuse  herself  in  his 
absence. 

"Temple,  ivhere  am  I  noiv?  What  is  the  meaning 
of  this  ?  I  drank  tea  with  her  this  afternoon,  and  sat 
near  four  hours  with  her  mother  and  her.  Our  con- 
versation turned  all  on  the  manner  in  which  two  people 
might  live.  She  has  the  justest  ideas.  She  said  she 
knew  me  now ;  she  could  laugh  me  out  of  my  ill- 
humour  ;  she  could  give  Lord  Auchinleck  a  lesson  how 
to  manage  me.  Temple,  what  does  the  girl  mean  ?  .  .  . 
Come,  why  do  I  allow  myself  to  be  uneasy  for  a  Scots 
lass  ?  Eouse  me,  my  friend  !  Kate  has  not  fire  enough  ; 
she  does  not  know  the  value  of  her  lover !  If  on  her 
return  she  still  remains  cold,  she  does  not  deserve  me. 
I  will  not  quarrel  with  her  :  she  cannot  help  her  defects  : 
but  I  will  break  my  enchanting  fetters.  To-morrow 
I  shall  be  happy  luith  my  devotions." 

Strange  to  say,  after  such  exciting  passages,  the 
Avhole  abruptly  came  to  an  end.  In  February,  1768, 
he  wrote  to  his  friend :  "  All  is  over  between  Miss 
Blair  and  me."  He  had  discovered  new  rivals,  as  he 
imagined,  in  a  young  baronet — "a  noble  match" — and 
that  Indian  Nabob  before-mentioned.  He  had  harassed 
the  lady  with  ridiculous  doubts,  and  even  struck  up  an 
alliance  with  the  two  gentlemen,  to  show  her  that  "  he 
did  not  care."     He  proposed  that  each  should  honour- 


BO  SWELL'S  ''LOVES."  1.33 

ably  fiivour  the  other's  suit,  and,  as  an  artful  device, 
he  wrote  a  decjage  letter  to  her,  which  he  got  the  baronet 
to  frank  for  him  !  With  extraordinary  lack  of  gentle- 
manly feeling,  he  took  the  Nabob  into  his  confidence ; 
told  him  "all  that  had  passed  between  her  and  me;" 
spoke  of  her  "  wary  mother ; "  quoted  Dempster's 
humorous  saying,  that  her  family  and  friends  "were 
in  a  confederacy  to  lay  hold  of  every  man  with  j6lOOO 
a  year."  "  I  called  it,"  said  the  foolish  Bozzy,  "  salmon 
fishing y  No  doubt  all  this  was  repeated.  He  then 
went  to  her,  and  ofiered  to  try  and  make  himself  "  as 
agreeable  to  her  as  possible;  that  is,  if  he  had  any 
chance."  She  told  him  bluntly  he  need  not  take  the 
trouble ;  "so  I  think  I  had  enough."  He  consoled 
himself  by  writing  doggerel  verses  on  her. 

•'A  CEAMBO   SONG   OX  LOSING   MY  MISTRESS. 

"  Although  I  be  an  honest  laird, 

In  person  rather  strong  and  brawny, 
For  me  the  heiress  never  cared, 

For  she  would  have  the  knight,  Sir  Sawney. 

"  And  when,  with  ardent  vows,  I  swore 
Loud  as  Sir  Jonathan  Trelawny, 
The  heiress  showed  me  to  the  door, 

And  said  she'd  have  the  knight,  Sir  Sawney. 

"  She  told  me,  with  a  scornful  look, 
I  was  as  ugly  as  a  tawney, 
For  she  a  better  fish  could  hook, 

The  rich  and  gallant  knight.  Sir  Sawney." 

It  seems  scarcely  credible  that  at  this  crisis  of  his 
dismissal  he  should  have  turned  to  supply  the  vacancy 
with  an  old  flame  of  Dutch  extraction,  whom  he  had 
met  at  Utrecht,  but  had  not  seen  for  many  years. 
This  was  the  Dutch  "  Zelide."  "  You  say  well,  that 
I  find  mistresses  wherever  I  am  ;  but  I  am  a  sad  dupe — 
a  perfect  Don  Quixote.     To  return  to  where  it  winces : 


134  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

might  I  not  tell  my  charmer  that  really  I  am  an  incon- 
stant being,  but  I  cannot  help  it  ?  or  may  I  let  my  love 
gradually  decay  ?  Had  she  never  loved  before,  I  would 
have  lost  every  drop  of  my  blood  rather  than  give  her 
up.  .  .  .  My  father  is  quite  against  the  scheme,  so  you 
need  not  be  afraid.  Indeed  I  should  not  engage  in 
matrimonial  concerns  without  your  approbation.  .  .  . 
Zelide  may  have  had  her  faults,  but  is  she  always  to 
have  them  ?  may  not  time  have  altered  her  for  the 
better,  as  it  has  altered  me  ?  But  you  will  tell  me  that 
I  am  not  so  greatly  altered,  as  I  have  still  many  unruly 
passions.  To  confess  to  you  at  once.  Temple,  I  have, 
since  my  last  coming  to  town,  been  as  wild  as  ever." 

He  then  once  more  reverted  to  Miss  Blair :  "  Though, 
now  that  all  is  over,  I  see  many  faults  which  I  did  not 
see  before.  Do  you  not  think  she  has  not  feeling 
enough,  nor  that  ingenuous  spirit  which  your  friend 
requires  ?  The  Nabob  and  many  other  people  are  still 
of  opinion  that  she  has  not  made  sure  of  Sir  Sawney, 
and  that  all  this  may  be  finesse.  .  .  .  I  am,  however, 
resolved  to  look  out  for  a  good  wife,  either  here  or  in 
England — a  Howard,  or  some  other  of  the  noblest  in 
the  kingdom."  Such  was  this  record  of  love  and 
absurdity,  in  which  the  hero  was  certainly  unlucky. 

Boswell,  after  much  wearying  out  his  father  with 
his  importunities,  and  his  longings  to  set  off  in  hot  haste 
for  Utrecht,  was  now  to  discover  that  Mdlle.  de  Zuyl 
was,  like  Miss  Blair,  not  at  all  the  person  suited  to  him. 
The  process  by  which  he  arrived  at  this  conclusion  was 
thus  amusingly  revealed.  He  was  really  eager  to  break 
off,  for  he  discovered  serious  faults  and  blemishes  in  her 
— "  levity,  and  infidel  notions," — and  wrote  to  hope  she 
was  "altered  for  the  better."  "  Is  she  not  a  termagant, 
or  at  least  will  she  not  be  one  by  the  time  she  is  forty  ?' 


BOS  WELL'S  "LOVES."  135 

and  she  is  near  thirty  now.  ...  I  was  afraid  that  my 
father,  out  of  his  great  indulgence,  might  have  con- 
sented to  my  going  to  Utrecht.  .  .  .  '  How  happy  am 
I  at  havinir  a  friend  at  home  of  such  wisdom  and  firm- 
ness.  I  was  eager  for  the  Guards,  I  was  eager  for 
mademoiselle  ;  but  you  have  happily  restrained  me  from 
both.  ...  I  shall  henceforth  do  nothing  without  your 
advice.  Worthy  man  !  this  will  be  a  solace  to  him 
upon  his  circuit." 


136  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

ENGAGED   TO  BE    MARRIED. 
1769. 

But  not  tliree  montlis  passed  before  we  find  our  liero 
again  engrossed  by  a  new  passion  !  English,  Scotcli, 
and  Dutch  belles  had  unsuccessfully  passed  by  him  ; 
an  Irish  one  now  appeared  on  the  scene. 

"I  am  exceedingly  lucky  having  escaped  the  insensible 
Miss  Blair  and  the  furious  Zelide,  for  I  have  now  seen 
the  finest  creature  that  ever  was  formed,  la  belle  Irlan- 
daise.  Figure  to  yourself,  Temple,  a  young  lady  just 
sixteen,  formed  like  a  Grecian  nymph,  with  the  sweetest 
countenance,  full  of  sensibility,  accomplished,  with  a 
Dublin  education,  always  half  the  year  in  the  north  of 
Ireland,  her  father  a  counsellor-at-law,  with  an  estate 
of  ,£1000  a  year,  and  above  £10,000  in  ready  money  ; 
her  mother  a  sensible,  well-bred  woman  ;  she  the  darling 
of  her  parents,  and  no  other  child  but  her  sister.  She 
is  cousin  to  some  cousins  of  mine  in  this  county.  I 
was  at  their  house  while  she  and  her  father  and  mother 
and  aunt  were  over  upon  a  visit  just  last  week.  The 
counsellor  is  as  worthy  a  gentleman  as  ever  I  saw. 
Your  friend  is  a  favourite  with  all  of  them.  From 
morning  to  night  I  admired  the  charming  Mary  Anne. 
Upon  my  honour,  I  never  was  so  much  in  love ;  I  never 


ENGAGED    TO   BE  3IABBIED.  137 

was  before  in  a  situation  to  which  there  was  not  some 
objection,  but  here  every  flower  is  united,  and  not  a 
thorn  to  be  found.  But  how  shall  I  manage  it  ?  they 
were  in  a  hurry,  and  are  gone  home  to  Ireland.  They 
were  sorry  they  could  not  come  to  see  Auchinleck,  of 
which  they  had  heard  a  great  deal.  Mary  Anne  wished 
much  to  he  in  the  grotto.  I  received  the  kindest  invita- 
tion to  come  and  see  them  in  Ireland,  and  I  promised 
to  be  there  in  March.  AVhat  a  fortunate  fellow  am  I ! 
what  a  variety  of  adventures  in  all  countries  !     I  was 

allowed  to  walk  a  great  deal  with  Miss ;  I  repeated 

my  fervent  passion  to  her  again  and  again  ;  she  was 
pleased,  and  I  could  swear  that  her  little  heart  beat. 
I  carved  the  first  letter  of  her  name  on  a  tree  ;  I  cut 
off  a  lock  of  her  hair,  mcde  pertinax.  She  promised 
not  to  forget  me,  nor  to  marry  a  lord  before  March. 
Her  aunt  said  to  me,  '  Mr.  Boswell,  I  tell  you  seriously 
there  will  be  no  fear  of  this  succeeding  but  from  your 
own  inconstancy ;  stay  till  March.'  All  the  Scotch 
cousins  too  think  I  may  be  the  happy  man.  Ah,  my 
friend,  I  am  now  as  I  ought  to  be  ;  no  reserved,  prudent 
conduct,  as  with  Miss  B.  No  !  all  youthful,  warm, 
natural ;  in  short,  all  genuine  love.  Pray  tell  me  what 
you  think.  I  have  great  confidence  in  your  judgment. 
I  mean  not  to  ask  what  you  think  of  my  angelic  girl ; 
I  am  fixed  beyond  a  possibility  of  doubt  as  to  her." 

The  lover  was  now  confidinef  to  his  intimate  friend 
that  this  was  the  most  agreeable  passion  he  ''  ever  felt." 
Before  he  left  London  he  went  into  St.  Paul's  Cathedral, 
and  "made  a  vow"  that  he  would  not  allow  himself 
^'  licentious  connections  of  any  kind  for  six  months.  I 
have  hitherto  kept  firm  to  my  vow,  and  already  feel 
myself  a  superior  being."  This  making  of  vows,  praying 
for  the  dead,  and  belief  in  the   Real   Presence,  were 


138;  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

remnants  of  liis   Catholic  leanings,  and  clung   to    liim 
through  life. 

Being  now  invited  to  Ireland  by  the  family  of 
his  charmer,  to  stay  with  them,  he  was  eager  to  set  off 
at  once.  But  suddenly  Miss  Blair  re-appears,  and  he 
had  now  the  mortification  of  learnino-  that  it  was  his 
own  folly  that  had  frustrated  his  efforts. 

"What  think  you,  my  friend?     Miss  Blair  is  Miss 
Blair  still  !    Her  marriage  with  the  Knight  is  not  to  be. 
After  the  departure  of  my  '  belle  Irlandaise,'  I  was  two 
or  three  times  at  Adamtown,  and,  upon  my  word,  the 
old  flame  was  kindled.     The  wary  mother,  as  you  called 
her,  told  me  that  it  was  my  own  fault  that  her  daughter 
was  not  long  ago  my  wife  ;  but  that  after  the  young  lady 
had  shown  me  very  particular  marks  of  regard,  corre- 
sponded vntli  me,  etc.,  I  had  "made  such  a  joke  of  my  love 
for  the  heiress  in  everi/  compcmy,  that  she  was  piqued, 
and  did  not  believe  that  I  had  any  serious  intentions  ; 
that  in  the  meantime  the  Knio-ht  offered,  and  what  could 
she    do  ?     Temple,   to   a  man  again  in    love,   this  was 
encrawinof.     I   walked   whole   hours  with  the  Princess ; 
I  kneeled ;  I  became  truly  amorous,  but  she  told  me 
that  'really  she  had  a  very  great  regard   for  me,  but 
did  not  like  me  so  as  to  marry  me.'      You  never  saw 
such  a  coldness.  .  .  .   She  might  have  had  me,  hut,  luckily 
for  me,   she   still  affected  the  same  coldness,  and  not 
a  line  would  she  write.     Then  came  a  kind  letter  from 
my  amiable  aunt  Boyd  in  Ireland,  and  all  the  charms 
of  sweet  Mary  Anne  revived.     Since  that  time  I  have 
been  quite  constant  to  her,  and  as  indifferent  towards 
Kate  as  if  I  never  had  thou^^ht  of  her.     She  is  still 
in  the  country.     Should  I  write  to  her,  and  tell  her 
I  am  cured,  as  she  washed  ?     By  all  that's  enchanting, 
I  go  to  Ireland  in  March.     What  should  I  say  to  Kate  ?' 


ENGAGED    TO   BE  MARRIED.  139 

You  see,  I  am  still  the  old  man  :  I  have  still  need  of 
your  advice :  write  nie  without  delay.  I  shall  soon 
give  you  a  more  general  epistle." 

There  has  been  some  speculation  as  to  the  name  of 
this  young  lady,  who  had  so  nearly  fixed  the  affections 
of  Mr.  Bosvvell.  From  Boswell's  allusion  to  "  my  aunt 
Boyd/'  Boyd  is  not  unlikely  to  have  been  her  name. 
In  response  to  this  good-natured  invitation,  Mr.  Bos  well, 
in  1769,  set  off  on  his  Irish  excursion.  Later  he  often 
tried  to  allure  his  great  friend  to  that  country  who, 
however,  would  protest  that  though  Dublin  might  be 
worth  seeino;  it  was  not  "  worth  o'oino-  to  see."  Not 
long  before  his  death,  Boswell  recalled  fondly  the 
pleasures  of  Dublin,  and  declared,  to  his  friend  Malone 
there,  that  he  thought  "  he  should  enjoy  their  dinner- 
parties much."  His  comjDanion  on  this  Hibernian 
expedition  was  his  cousin,  Miss  Peggie  Montgomerie, 
who,  we  must  presume,  was  accompanied  by  some 
chaperon.  This  young  lady  had  "numerous  and 
respectable  relations "  in  that  country,  who  "showed 
him  every  attention,"  "the  brave  Captain  Macbride," 
afterwards  Admiral,  and  others,  connected  with  the 
Duudouald  family,  a  member  of  which  house  had  married 
"  Robert  Sibthorpe,  Esq.,  a  person  of  importance  in  the 
County  of  Down,  which  brought  him  into  further  notice." 
Some  seven  weeks  were  spent  merrily  enough.  The  Lord 
Lieutenant,  Lord  Townsend,  paid  him  many  attentions  ; 
"  for,"  as  he  naively  tells  us,  "  the  congeniality  of 
their  dispositions  united  them  in  the  most  pleasant 
manner."  Lord  Charlemont,  Dr.  Leland,  Mr.  Flood,  and 
George  Faulkiner,  the  eccentric  printer,  all  contributed 
to  his  happiness."  He  missed  no  opportunity  of  making 
or  finding  friends.  Even  at  Drogheda,  he  met  a  cousin, 
Colonel  Graham  of  the  Royal  Highlanders.     The  Public 


MO  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

Advertiser  informed  its  readers,  ou  tlie  7tli  of  July, 
that  "James  Boswell,  Esq.,  having  now  visited  Ireland, 
he  dined  with  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Leinster  at  his 
seat  at  Carton ;  he  went  also  by  special  invitation 
to  meet  the  Lord  Lieutenant  at  his  country  seat  at 
Leixlip,  to  which  he  was  conducted,  in  one  of  his 
Excellency's  coaches,  by  Lieut. -Colonel  Walshe.  He 
dined  there  and  stayed  all  night,  and  next  morning 
came  in  the  coach  with  his  Excellency  to  the  Phoenix 
Park,  and  was  present  at  a  review  of  Sir  Joseph  Yorke's 
ilrao'oons.  He  also  dined  with  the  Rioht  Honourable 
the  Lord  Mayor.  He  is  now  set  out  on  his  return  to 
Scotland."  Li  L^eland  he  remained  six  weeks  in  all. 
And  among  other  acquaintances  he  had  been  intro- 
duced to  the  eccentric  Bishop  of  Derry,  with  whom  he 
was  later  to  have  a  little  controversy. 

But  in  all  this  junketing  we  find  no  mention  of  his 
Lish  "  flame  ;  "  and,  indeed,  he  seemed  to  pass  most  of  his 
time  away  from  the  County  Down.  "  Mary  Anne  "  may 
have  actually  rejected  him :  and  in  his  mortification  he 
may  have  found  comfort  in  another  quarter.  At  any 
rate  a  surprise  is  now  to  follow. 

As  we  have  said,  he  was  accompanied  on  this  expedi- 
tion by  his  cousin,  Miss  Margaret,  or  "  Peggy,"  Mont- 
gomerie,  who  was  the  confidante  of  his  feelings.  She 
had  witnessed  the  termination  of  his  last  attachment,  and 
soothed  his  mortification.  The  piqued  Boswell,  as  so 
often  happens  in  such  cases,  turned  his  thoughts  to  his 
comforter,  in  whom  he  began  to  see  actual  charms,  and, 
in  disgust  at  his  numerous  casualties  in  the  court  of  love, 
he  suddenly  plunged  into  matrimony.  This  lady  was 
"  the  daughter  of  David  Montgomerie,  Esq.,  of  Lanislaw, 
and  representative  o±  the  peerage  of  Lyle."  She  was 
also   connected  with    Lord   Eglinton.     As   he  tells  us 


ENGAGED    TO   BE  MxiREIED.  141 

himself,  with  an  ('xtraordiuaiy  candour,  in  his  "  Memoir," 
"They  had  lived  from  their  earliest  years  in  the  most 
unreserved  and  intimate  friendship  :  his  love  of  the  fair 
sex  was  ever  unbounded,  and  she  was  a  constant  yet 
prudent  and  delicate  confidante  " — an  odd  compliment  ! — 
"of  all  his  egarcmcnts  dii  cceur ;  so,  with  a  frankness 
of  character  for  which  she  was  ever  remarkable,  she 
accepted  the  offer,  and  this,  Mr.  Boswell  has  ever  been 
heard  to  say,  was  the  most  fortunate  circumstance  in 
his  life.  This  jaunt  was  the  occasion  of  his  carrying 
himself  into  that  connection  to  which  he  had  always 
declared  himself  averse.  He  requested  that  she  would 
do  him  the  favour  to  accept  him  with  all  his  faults,  with 
which  he  was  imperfectly  acquainted  ;  and  though  he 
had  uniformly  protested  that  a  large  fortune  was  an 
indispensable  requisite,  he  was  willing  to  waive  that  in 
consideration  of  her  peculiar  merit."  This  revelation 
was  made  after  her  death.  Accidentally  it  turned  out 
an  admirable  choice;  for  her  practical  and  unsympathetic 
disposition  w^as  exactly  fitted  to  keep  his  erratic  temper 
under  control. 

During  the  interval  between  his  engagement  and 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Boswell  was  to  make  a  grotesque 
exhibition,  at  the  Shakespeare  Jubilee,  held  at  Stratford- 
on-Avon.  It  must  be  remembered  that  this  raree-show 
was  in  itself  an  absurd  performance  enough,  and  it  has 
always  seemed  a  matter  of  astonishment  that  so  shrewd 
and  sensible  a  person  as  Garrick  should  not  merely  have 
organized,  but  have  figured  so  conspicuously  in,  the 
performance.  There  was  nothing  in  the  exhibition 
that  had  any  particular  connection  with  Boswell ;  but  it 
is  not  difficult  to  discover  the  motive  that  prompted 
him  to  take  part  in  the  business.  Perhaps  it  was  that 
he  was  in  possession  of  a  showy  fancy  dress  which  he  was 


142  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

lono-ino;  to  exhibit — that  of  a  Corsicaii  native  :  he  had 
Lately  come  from  Corsica  ;  his  travels  and  discoveries 
were  in  the  news^Dapers ;  and  he  thought  that  at 
Stratford  he  Avas  sure  to  be  pointed  out  as  "  the  dis- 
tinguished Mr.  Boswell."  Many  people  have  known 
some  feather-headed  friend  whom  a  possession  of  a  rich 
fancy  dress  has  thus  seduced  into  long  journeys  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  exhibiting  himself. 

The  incidents  of  this  theatricnl  solemnity,  in  which 
there  was  no  little  genuine  feeling  for  Shakespeare,  have 
been  often  recounted.  The  shocking  weather  and  the 
rain  destroyed  all  the  effect  of  the  attempted  festivities. 
The  wooden  pavilion  erected  for  the  occasion  was  com- 
pletely flooded.  Under  such  difficulties  the  carnival 
took  place,  the  water  almost  cutting  off  all  approach 
to  the  rooms.  Our  hero  described  all  the  proceedings 
in  a  very  graphic  and  vivacious  account,  which  he 
furnished  to  the  London  Magazine,  and  in  which,  as 
may  be  imagin  ed,  the  figure  of  Mr.  Boswell  was  pretty 
conspicuous.  Every  word  of  it  is  characteristic  ;  and  it  is 
pleasant  reading  from  the  naive,  natural  way  in  which 
the  writer  communicates  his  impressions. 

"Allow  me,"  he  says,  "amongst  many  others,  to 
describe  Shakespeare's  Jubilee  at  Stratford-on-Avon. 
For  my  own  part  I  am  now  returned  to  London,  and 
I  flatter  myself  that,  after  being  agitated  as  much  as 
anybody,  I  have  recovered  my  trancjuillity  and  am  in 
a  condition  to  give  you  a  few  remarks  on  this  celebrated 
jubilee  of  genius,  which,  I  am  persuaded,  will  engage 
the  attention,  not  only  of  all  ranks  of  this  island,  but  of 
the  learned  and  ingenious  in  every  part  of  Europe.  My 
bosom  glowed  with  joy  when  I  beheld  a  numerous  and 
splendid  company  of  nobility  and  gentry,  the  rich,  the 
brave,  the  witty  and  the  fair,  assembled  to  pay  their 


ENGAQED    TO  BE  MABRIED.  14 


o 


tribute  to  Shakespeare.  Let  conceited  and  disappointed 
authors  and  players  vent  their  spleen  against  him,  he 
may  assure  himself  that  his  fame  will  last  for  ever." 
This  was  a  thrust  at  Foote,  whom  he  certainly  disliked, 
and  who,  in  a  rather  malignant  fashion,  went  about 
.sneering  at  the  projector  and  all  his  proceedings. 

"  The  morning  of  the  first  day,"  he  goes  on,  "  was 
ushered  in  with  a  pleasing  serenade  by  the  best  musicians 
from  London,  in  disguise.      The  jubilee  began  with  an 
oratorio  in  the  great  church  at  Stratford  ;  the  subject 
the  story  of  Judith,  the  words  by  Mr,  Bickerstaff,  the 
music  by  Dr.   Arne.     It  was  a  grand    and  admirable 
performance.     But  I  could  have  wished  that  prayers  had 
been  read  and  a  short  sermon  preached.     It  would  have 
consecrated  our  jubilee  to  begin  it  with  devotion,  with 
gratefully  adoring  the  Supreme  Father  of  all  spirits,  from 
whom  Cometh  every  good  and  perfect  gift.  The  p>rocession 
with  music  from  the  church  to  the  amphitheatre,  led  on 
by  Mr.  Garrick,  had  a  very  good  eftect.     The  amphi- 
theatre was  a   w^ooden    building,   erected  just   on  the 
brink    of  the  Avon,  in  the  form  of  an  octagon,  with 
eight    pillars    supporting  the   roof.      It  was   elegantly 
painted  and  gilded.     Between  the  pillars  were  crimson 
curtains,  very  well    arranged,  and   hanging    over  each 
recess.     In    this    amphitheatre  was    a   large  orchestra, 
placed  as   it  used   to  be  formerly  in  Eanelagh.     Here 
the  company  dined  exceedingly  well,  between  three  and 
four.      Between   five    and   six   the    musical   performers 
appeared,  and  entertained  us  with  several  of  the  songs  in 
'Shakespeare's   Garland,'    composed    for   the    occasion. 
Towards  the  end  of  the  jubilee  many  of  us  were  not 
in  very  good  humour,  as  many  inconveniences  occurred. 
I  laughed  away  my  spleen  hy  a  droll  simile.   Takiug  the 
whole  of  this  jubilee,  I  must  be  forgiven  for  observing 


144  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

that  this  exhibition  looked  so  like  a  trap  laid  on  purpose 
that  it  displeased  me,  and  I  was  angry  to  find  any 
notice  taken  of  the  venomous  insects  who  have  shot 
their  stings  in  the  newspapers,  particularly  against  Mr. 
Garrick.  It  had  the  appearance  of  a  soreness  unworthy 
of  our  Lord  High  Steward.  If  the  gnats  at  any  time 
slightly  pierce  his  skin,  let  him  drop  a  little  of  the  oil 
of  good  humour  upon  the  place  and  give  himself  no 
further  trouble.  This  is  mi/  receipt,  founded  ujwn 
experience.  Said  I,  '  It  is  like  eating  an  artichoke 
entire.  We  have  some  fine  mouthfuls,  but  also  swallow 
the  leaves  and  hair,  which  are  confoundedly  diflicult 
of  digestion.'  After  all,  however,  I  am  highly  satisfied 
with  my  artichoke."  He  then  gave,  or  suggested  some 
personal  sketch  of  himself,  his  dress  and  behaviour, 
which  is  truly  grotesque.  "  One  of  the  most  remarkable 
masks  upon  the  occasion  was  James  Boswell,  Esq.,  in 
the  dress  of  an  armed  Corsican  chief.  He  entered  the 
amphitheatre  about  twelve  o'clock;  he  wore  a  short 
dark-coloured  coat  of  coarse  cloth,  scarlet  waistcoat, 
breeches,  and  black  spatterdashes  ;  his  cap  or  bonnet 
was  of  black  cloth ;  on  the  front  of  it  was  embroidered 
in  gold  letters,  '  Viva  la  Liberta,'  and  on  one  side  of 
it  was  a  handsome  blue  feather  and  cockade,  so  that 
it  had  an  elegant  as  well  as  a  warlike  appearance.  On 
the  breast  of  his  coat  was  sewed  a  Moore's  head,  the 
crest  of  Corsica,  surrounded  with  branches  of  laurel ;  he 
had  also  a  cartridge-pouch,  into  which  was  stuck  a 
stiletto,  and  on  his  left  side  a  pistol  was  hung  upon 
the  belt  of  his  cartridge-j^ouch.  He  had  a  fusee  slung 
across  his  shoulder,  wore  no  powder  in  his  hair,  but  had 
it  plaited  at  its  full  length,  with  a  knot  of  blue  ribbons  at 
the  end  of  it.  He  had,  by  way  of  stafi",  a  very  curious 
vine,  all  of  one  piece,  with  a  bird  finely  carved  upon  it, 


ENGAGED    TO   BE  MAnUIED.  145 

einhlematical  of  the  siveet  hard  of  Avon.  He  wore  no 
mask,  saying  that  it  was  not  proper  for  a  gallant 
Corsican.  So  soon  as  he  came  into  the  room,  he  drew 
miiverscd  attention.  The  novelty  of  the  Corsican  dress, 
its  becoming  appearance,  and  the  character  of  the  brave 
nation,  concurred  to  distinguish  the  armed  Corsican 
chief.  He  was  first  accosted  by  Mr.  Garrick,  with  whom 
he  had  a  good  deal  of  conversation.  There  was  a  warm 
discussion  between  Lord  Grosvenor,  in  the  character  of 
a  Turk,  and  the  Corsican,  on  the  different  constitution 
of  the  countries  so  opposite  to  each  other, — Des|)otism 
and  Liberty  ;  and  Captain  Thomson,  of  the  navy,  ia 
the  character  of  an  honest  tar,  kept  it  up  very  well  ;  he 
expressed  a  strong  inclination  to  stand  by  the  brave 
islanders.  Mr.  Bos  well  danced  both  a  minuet  and 
country-dance  ^rith  a  very  ^jretty  Irish  lady,  Mrs. 
Sheldon,  wife  to  Captain  Sheldon  of  the  38th  Foot 
(Lord  Blaney's) ;  she  was  dressed  in  a  genteel  domino, 
and  before  she  danced  threw  off  her  mask.  Mr.  Boswell 
having  come  to  the  jubilee  to  contribute  his  share 
towards  what  he  called  a  classical  institution  in  honour 
of  Shakespeare,  being  also  desirous  of  paying  compli- 
ment to  Mr.  Garrick,  with  whom  he  lias  always  been  on 
a  most  agreeable  footing,  and  never  unmindful  of  the 
cause  which  he  has  espoused,  he  wrote  the  following 
verses,  which,  it  is  thought,  are  well  suited  to  the 
occasion,  while,  at  the  same  time,  they  preserved  the 
true  Corsican  character." 

His  picture  as  an  "  armed  Corsican  "  was  added. 


VOL.  1. 


H(J  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

.      MES.    BOSWELL — MAERIED    LIFE — LEGAL    CONXECTIOXS. 

1769. 

After  this  exhibition,  Boswell  had  dow  to  think  seriously 
■of  his  impending  marriage,  which,  however,  did  not 
take  pLace  until  the  November  of  1769,  when  it  was 
thus  announced — 

''November  25.  At  Lanislaiv,  in  the  Shire  of  Ayr, 
■James  Boswell,  Esqre.,  of  Auchinlech,  Advocate,  to 
Miss  Peggy  Montgomery,  daughter  of  the  late  David 
Montgomery,  of  Lanislaw,  EsqreJ* 

It  was  certainly  a  rather  hasty  and  improvident 
step  ;  the  lady  had  no  fortune,  and,  her  father  being 
dead  some  time,  she  was  not  likely  to  obtain  one.  It 
was  also  highly  displeasing  to  Boswell's  father,  as  we 
find  from  a  very  marked,  and  rather  original  step,  he 
took  to  show  his  displeasure.  His  wife,  as  we  have 
seen,  had  died  some  years  before,  and  he  now  arranged 
a  second  marriage,  selecting  the  very  day  of  his  son's 
for  the  occasion.  And  so  we  read :  "  November  25, 
17G9,  at  Edinburgh,  Alexander  Boswell,  Esqre.,  of 
Auchinleck,  one  of  the  Lords  of  Session  and  Justices, 
to  Miss  Betty  Boswell,  second  daughter  of  John  Boswell, 
of  Balmuto,  deceased."  He  had  determined  not  to 
appear  at  his  son's  wedding,  and  took  this  mode  of 
furnishing  the  reason. 


MBS.  BOSWELL — MABniED   LIFE.  147 

Mrs.  Boswell  figures  in  lier  liiisband's  chronicle  as  a 
lady  of  rather  tart  dis^iosition,  who  made  herself  dis- 
agreeable to  the  great  sage.  But  she  was  sorely  tried 
by  her  husband's  follies,  his  love  of  the  bottle,  and  of 
the  other  sex  ;  by  his  w\asteful  extravagance,  and  his  con- 
stant expeditions  to  London,  where  he  could  indulge  his 
tastes  uncontrolled.  Mr.  Boswell  was  attached  to  her 
after  his  fashion,  but  stood  much  in  awe  of  her.  Baretti, 
in  his  rude  "  ^Marginalia,"'  wrote:  "I  am  told  Boswell's 
wife  is  a,  coarse  sort  of  woman."  Her  behaviour 
to  Johnson,  whom  she  caused  to  feel  that  he  was  an 
intruding  guest,  shows  this  plainly.  She  had,  however, 
a  sort  of  native  bluntness,  a  nd  her  husband  has  recorded 
several  of  her  smart  things  and  hon  ]nots,  as  he  calls 
them.  "  Boswell,  speaking  of  a  horse,  said  he  was  a 
horse  of  Ijlood.  She  answered  readily,  '  I  hope  so,  for 
I  am  sure  he  has  no  JlcshJ  "  He  tells  us  that  "  she 
recommended  readino-  the  '  Arabian  Nio-hts  Entertain- 
ments '  to  one  in  Ijad  health  and  low  spirits  ;  '  not,'  said 
she,  '  to  be  taken  into  the  mind,  but  to  keep  out  dis- 
turbing thoughts  ;  let  them  be  like  a  sentry,  whom  we 
do  not  admit  into  the  chamber  of  a  sick  person,  but 
place   at   the    door   to   prevent   noisy  intruders.'     She 

<lisapproved  of  my  inviting  J\Ir.   M sh,  a  man   of 

ability  but  of  violent  manners,  to  make  one  in  a  genteel 
party  at  our  house  one  evening.  '  He  is,'  said  she,  '  like 
fire  and  water,  useful,  but  not  to  be  brought  into  com- 
pany.' Dr.  Grant  asked  if  Mr.  Macadam  of  Craigen- 
gellan  had  but  one  daughter.  I  said  he  had  properly 
speaking  but  one — one  beautiful  daughter,  the  other 
poor  girl  was  very  ugly.  ^My  wife  said  that  it  was  hard 
that  want  of  good  looks  should  make  her  not  be  reckoned 
his  daughter ;  she  was  more  a  daughter  on  that  account, 
as  being  more  likely  to  continue  with  him."     And  what 


148  LIFE   OF  JAMES  I)  OS  WELL. 

a,  capital  contrast,  too,  of  character  in  tlie  following ! 
"  AVlien  I  was  w^arm,  telling  of  my  own  consequence  and 
generosity,  my  wife  made  some  cool  liumbling  remarks 
upon  me.  I  flew  into  a  violent  passion  ;  I  said,  '  If  you 
throw  cold  water  on  a  plate  of  iron  much  heated  it  will 
burst  into  shivers.'  "  Mr.  Boswell  figures  rather  trivially 
in  the  next  incident:  "My  wife  was  angry  at  a  silk 
cloak  for  Veronica  being  ill-made,  and  said  it  could  not 
be  altered.  '  Then,'  said  I,  '  it  must  be  a  Persian  cloak,' 
alludino:  to  the  silk  called  Persian  and  the  unalterable 
Persian  laws.  .  .  .  My  wife  said  it  would  be  much  better 
to  irive  salaries  to  members  of  Parliament  than  to  let 
them  try  what  they  can  get  oft'  their  country  by  places 
and  pensions.  Said  she,  '  They  are  like  ostlers  and  pos- 
tillions, who  have  no  wages,  and  must  support  themselves 
by  vails.' "  Her  most  famous  mot,  however,  was  that 
"  she  had  often  heard  of  a  bear  being  led  by  a  man,  but 
never  till  now  of  a  man  being  led  by  a  bear."  And  this 
Mr.  Boswell,  with  courageous  insensibility,  relates  to  his 
readers  !  But  another  family  scene  shows  the  same  con- 
trast between  absurdity  and  good  sense.  A  discussion 
arose  between  Dr.  Webster  and  Boswell  as  to  the  pro- 
priety of  visiting  a  person  who  had  married  a  low  man, 
the  doctor  urging  that  the  best  way  to  get  the  better  of 
them  was  to  treat  them  with  cold  civility.  "  '  But,' 
exclaimed  Mr.  Boswell,  '  I  don't  want  to  get  the  better 
of  them,  I  want  to  get  rid  of  them  :  you  may  get  the 
better  of  a  sow  by  going  into  the  mire  and  boxing  it  ; 
but  who  would  do  it  ? '  My  wife,  who  wanted  to  sup- 
port Dr.  Webster,  though  she  had  not  much  attended  U> 
the  disinite,  said  something  which  was  of  pretty  much 
the  same  import  with  my  remarks.  '  Well,'  said  I,  '  this 
is  good  enough.  She  thinks  she  is  opposing  me,  and 
yet  she  agrees  with  me  ;  she  thinks  she  is  riding  a  race 


MRS.  BOSWELL— MARRIED  LIFE.  149 

witli  me  iiDcI  o-etting  the  l)etter,  and  all  tlie  time  slie 
is  behind  me.' " 

''  When  admiriuo*  the  maonificcnce  at  Keddlestone, 
Lord  Seai'sdale's  mansion,  and  all  its  treasures,  Johnson 
remarked,  '  all  this  excludes  but  one  evil — poverty.' 
When  I  mentioned  Dr.  Johnson's  remark  to  a  lady  of 
admirable  good  sense  and  quickness  of  understanding, 
she  observed,  '  It  is  true,  but  how  much  good  does  it 
let  in  ? '  To  this  observation  much  praise  has  been 
justly  given."  This  wise  and  happy  comment  was  Mrs. 
Boswell's ;  and  it  was  with  equal  pride  and  affection 
that  he  could  not  resist  adding  this  passage  in  his  second 
edition  :  "  Let  me,  then,  do  myself  the  honour  to  mention 
that  the  lady  who  made  it  w\as  the  late  Margaret  Mont- 
gomerie,  my  very  valuable  wife,  and  the  very  affectionate 
mother  of  my  children,  who,  if  they  inherit  her  good 
qualities,  have  no  reason  to  complain  of  their  lot."  * 

James'  Court,  where  Boswell  resided  in  Edinburgh, 
had  been  the  mansion  of  his  friend  David  Hume,  whose 
tenant  he  became.f  Here  he  remained  a  couple  of 
years.  "  Entering  a  low  gateway,  which  pierces  the  line 
of  lofty  houses  along  the  Lawnmarket,  one  finds  one's- 
self  in  a  square  court,  surrounded  by  houses  which  have 

*  Sucli  cliano-es  and  little  toucliino-s  as  these  make  the  com- 
parison  of  the  different  editions  very  interesting  as  a  study  of 
Boswell's  character ;  and  it  Avas  Avith  this  view  that  I  ventured 
to  re-issue  the  first  edition  with  all  these  additions  and  alterations 
marked. 

■j"  A  builder  once  brought  an  action  for  repairs  against  Hume, 
a  note  of  which  is  among  the  manuscripts  of  the  Royal  Society  of 
Edinburgh.  "At  Whitsuntide  last,  Mr.  Boswell,  Advocate,  left 
Mr.  Hume's  house  near  James'  Court,  and  Lady  Wallace  came  to  it. 
Mrs.  Boswell  at  the  time  sent  for  one  Adam  Gillies,  mason,  to 
repair  some  plaister  which  was  broken.  On  this  opening  he  pre- 
tended that  other  repairs  were  wanting,  telling  Mr.  Hume  that 
Lady  Wallace  insisted  on  them "  ("  Life  of  Hume,"  John  Hill 
Burton,  ii.  138). 


150  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

now  evidently  fallen  to  the  lot  of  humbler  inhabitants 
than  those  for  whom  they  were  erected.  .  .  .  Entering 
one  of  the  doors  opposite  the  main  entrance,  the  stranger 
is  sometimes  led  by  a  friend,  wishing  to  offer  him  an 
agreeable  surprise,  down  flight  after  flight  of  the  steps 
of  a  stone  staircase,  where  he  imaoines  he  is  descendino; 
so  far  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  but  emerges  on  the 
edge  of  a  cheerful  thoroughfare.  AVlien  he  looks  up  to 
the  building  through  which  he  has  descended,  he  sees 
the  vast  pile  of  tall  houses  standing  at  the  head  of  the 
mound  which  creates  astonishment  in  every  visitor  to 
Edinburgh."  A  passage  in  a  letter  of  Johnson's  to  Mrs. 
Thrale  supports  this  description :  "  Boswell  has  very 
handsome  and  spacious  rooms,  level  with  the  ground  on 
one  side."* 

Unfortunately  Boswell  had  "  expressed  his  extreme 
aversion  "  to  his  father's  second  marriao-e,  without  reserve, 
an  imprudence  he  later  had  to  acknowledge.  But  this 
conduct  was  not  forgiven  by  his  father  or  by  his  new 
mother.  "  The  woman  is  rerij  implacahle,  and  I  imagine 
it  is  hardly  possible  that  she  can  ever  be  my  friend  ; 
she,  however,  behaves  much  better  to  the  children  than 
their  grandfather  does.  We  are  all  to  dine  at  my  father's 
to-day.  He  is  better  now  than  he  has  been  for  several 
years."  t 

*  Tliis  James'  Court  was  near  "  the  liead  of  the  eartlieu 
mound."  Dr.  Hill  Burton — according-  to  the  well-informed  Chambers 
— is  mistaken  in  supposing  that,  at  the  time  of  Johnson's  visit,  Bos- 
well occupied  Hume's  chambers  on  the  third  floor.  He  had  removed 
to  a  larger  suite  on  a  level  with  the  court  below,  and  which,  iu 
the  year  1846,  were  the  printing-offices  of  Messrs.  Pillans.  This 
is  proved  by  Johnson's  description  of  them,  as  "very  handsome 
and  spacious  rooms,  level  with  the  ground  on  one  side,  and  on  the 
other  four  stoi-ejs  high,"  whereas  Hume's  apartments  were  in  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  third  floor. 

t  Even  some  years  later,  in  1775,  Mr.  Boswell  gave  a  most 
unpleasant  sketch  of  his  disagreeable  step-mother.    It  has,  however, 


MES.  BOS  WELL — MABBIED   LIFE.  151 

This  folly  of  the  improvident  nicamagc,  the  quarrel 
with  his  father  for  what  he  deemed  his  improvidence, 
increased  by  the  difficulties  of  his  father's  temper,  were 
to  have  long  and  lasting  results.  The  judge,  how- 
ever, behaved  with  liberality.  "  It  must  be  acknow-' 
ledged,"  his  son  tells  us,  "that  his  paying  £1000  of  my 
debt  some  years  ago  was  a  large  bounty.  He  allows  me 
£300  a  year.  But  I  find  that  what  I  gain  by  my  prac- 
tice, and  that  sum  together,  will  not  support  my  family. 
I  am  in  hopes  that  my  father  will  augment  my  allowance 
to  .€400  a  year."  Nor  was  Boswell  likely  to  smooth, 
away  these  angry  feelings,  being  always  inclined  to 
argue  and  contradict.  As  Mr.  Kamsay  said,  the  judge's 
declining  years  were  embittered  by  these  obtrusive 
follies  of  his  son  ;  and,  above  all,  by  his  complete  and 
steadily  continued  failure  in  the  serious  business  of  life. 
Their  relations,  as  may  be  imagined,  continued  to  be  of 
the  most  disagreeable  kind ;  and  the  son,  being  dependent 
on  his  father  for  supplies,  compelled  himself,  ruefully 
enough,  to  endure  a  periodical  residence  at  Auchinleck, 
where  he  had  to  make  himself  agreeable,  particularly  to 
the  severe  lady  who  now  ruled  there.  Even  after  six 
or  seven  years  matters  had  not  improved. 

"My  father  is  most  unhappily  dissatisfied  with  me. 
My  wife  and  I  dined  with  him  on  Saturday ;  he  did  not 
salute  her,  though  he  had  not  seen  her  for  three  months  ; 
nor  did  he  so  much  as  ask  her  how  she  did,  though  she 
is  advanced  in  pregnancy.  He  harps  on  my  going  over 
Scotland  ivith  a  brute  (think  how  shockingly  erroneous  !), 

an  air  of  trutli.  "  His  "svife,  'whom  in  my  conscience  I  cannot  con- 
demn for  any  capital  bad  quality,  is  so  narrow-minded  and,  I  don't 
know  how,  so  set  upon  keeping  him  under  her  own  management, 
and  so  suspicious,  and  so  sourishly  tempered  that  it  requires  the 
ntmost  exertion  of  practical  philosophy  to  keep  myself  quiet." 


152  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

iiud  wandering  (or  some  such  phrase)  to  London.  In 
vain  do  I  defend  myself:  even  the  circumstance  that 
my  Last  jaunt  to  London  did  not  cost  me  £20 — as  I  got 
forty-two  guineas  in  London — does  not  affect  him.  / 
always  dread  his  making  some  had  settlement." 

Being  now  married  and  range,  it  might  have  been 
expected  that  he  would  set  himself  soberly  to  follow  his 
profession,  and  discard  those  pursuits  which  were  incom- 
patible with  study  and  decorum.  Instead,  we  find  him 
engrossed  with  pleasures  and  distractions  of  all  kinds. 
He  had  always  a  strange  taste  for  the  company  of 
persons  whose  lives  were  of  an  erratic  or  perhaps  loose 
caste  ;  and  for  adventurers,  male  or  female,  he  had  a 
particular  penchant.  Wilkes,  Hume,  Rousseau,  Mrs. 
Eudd,  Derrick  were  curious,  but  scarcely  improving 
company.  To  this  class  belonged  an  actor,  with  an  odd 
history,  who  was  then  at  Edinburgh,  David  Ross  by 
name.* 

*  This  person,  as  the  amusing  and  well-informed  John  Taylor 
tells  ns,  "  was  related  to  an  ancient  family  in  Scotland,  at  the  head 
of  whom,  in  his  time,  was  Sir  Walter  Ross.  He  had  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  a  good  actor  in  tragedy,  and  in  both  the  lively  and 
graver  parts  of  comedy.  He  was  Master  of  the  Revels  in  Scotland, 
and  was  very  fond  of  the  pleasures  of  the  table.  He  ate  himself 
into  so  unseemly  a  shape,  that  he  could  not  procure  a  situation  on 
the  London  boards.  His  wife  was  the  celebrated  Fanny  Murray. 
She  was  certainly  not  a  suitable  companion  for  Ross,  whose  con- 
versation more  resembled  the  dialogue  of  Congreve's  wits  than 
that  of  any  other  person  I  ever  knew.  He  also  excelled  in  telling 
a  humorous  story."  On  his  deathbed.  Dr.  Rogers  tells  us,  bis 
father  made  a  will,  excluding  him  from  any  share  of  his  property, 
and  cruelly  stipulating  that  his  sister  "should  pay  him  one  shilling 
annually  on  the  first  day  of  May,  his  birthday,  to  remind  him  of 
his  misfortune  in  being  born  "  !  On  the  plea  that,  by  the  law  of 
Scotland,  a  person  could  not  bequeath  an  estate  by  mere  words 
of  exclusion  without  an  express  conveyance  of  inheritance,  Ross 
obtained  a  reduction  of  the  settlement,  and  on  a  decision  by  the 
House  of  Lords  got  possession  of  six  thousand  pounds.  He  now 
retired  from  the  Edinburgh  theatre,  and  renewed  his  engagements 


MBS.   BO  SWELL — MABBIED  LIFE.  153 

With  tills  odd  character  we  find  Boswell  associated 
on  the  most  intimate  terms.  "  In  the  following  winter," 
he  tells  us,  "  Mr.  Boswell,  ever  ready  to  take  the  part 
of  the  injured,  was  (though  personally  unknown  to  him) 
solicited  by  the  late  David  Koss,  Esq.,  to  favour  him 
with  a  prologue  for  the  opening  a  Theatre  Eoyal  at 
Edinburgh,  for  which  Mr.  Ross  had  obtained  his 
Majesty's  patent,  but  found  a  violent  and  oppressive 
party  formed  in  opposition  to  him." 

The  theatre  had  been  destroyed  not  long  before, 
owing  to  a  riot.     Mr.  Boswell's  prologue  was  as  follows — 

"  Scotland,  for  learning-  and  for  arms  renown'd, 
In  ancient  annals  is  witli  lustre  crown'd ; 
And  still  she  shares  whate'er  the  world  can  yield 
Of  letter'd  fame,  or  glory  in  the  field. 
In  every  distant  land  Great  Britain  knows 
The  Thistle  springs  promiscuous  with  the  Rose. 

"  While  in  all  points  wnth  other  lands  she  vied, 
The  stage  alone  to  Scotland  was  denied  ; 
Mistaken  Zeal,  in  times  of  darkness  bred. 
O'er  the  best  minds  its  gloomy  vapours  spread ; 
Taste  and  Religion  were  supposed  at  strife  ; 
And  'twas  a  sin — to  view  this  glass  of  life  ! 

"  When  the  Muse  ventur'd  the  ungracious  task 
To  play  elusive  with  nnlicens'd  mask. 
Mirth  was  restrain'd  by  statutory  awe. 
And  tragick  greatness  fear'd  the  scourge  of  law. 
Illustrious  heroes  arrant  vagrants  seem'd. 
And  gentlest  nymphs  were  sturdy  beggars  deem'd. 

iit  Covcnt  Garden  ;  but  he  soon  became  a  victim  to  reckless  im- 
providence.    He  died  in  September,  1790. 

"My  old  friend  Ross,  the  player,"  wrote  Boswell,  "died  sud- 
denly yesterday  morning.  I  was  sent  for,  as  his  most  particular 
friend  in  town,  and  have  been  so  busy  in  arranging  his  funeral,  at 
which  I  am  to  be  chief  mourner,  that  I  have  left  myself  very  little 
time — only  about  ten  minutes.  Poor  Ross  !  he  was  an  unfortunate 
man  in  some  respects  ;  but  he  was  a  true  bo7i  vivant,  a  most  social 
man,  and  never  was  without  good  eating  and  drinking,  and  hearty 
companions.  He  had  schoolfellows  and  friends,  who  stood  by  him 
wonderfully.  I  have  discovered  that  Admiral  Barrington  once 
sent  him  £100,  and  allowed  him  an  annuity  of  £60  a  year." 


154  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

"  This  night  lov'cl  George's  free  enligliten'd  age 
Bids  EoYAL  Favour  shield  the  Scottish  stage  ; 
His  Eoyal  Favoiir  every  bosom  cheers  ; 
The  drama  now  with  dignity  appears  I 
Hard  is  my  fate,  if  mnrmnring's  thei'e  be 
Because  that  favour  is  announc'd  by  me. 

"  Anxious,  alarm'd,  and  aw'd  by  every  frown, 
May  I  entreat  the  candour  of  the  Town  : 
You  see  roe  here  by  no  unworthy  ai-t ; 
My  ALL  I  venture  where  I've  fix'd  my  heart. 
Fondly  ambitious  of  an  honest  fame, 
My  humble  labours  your  indulgence  claim  ; 
I  wish  to  hold  no  Right  but  by  your  clioice ; 
I'll  trust  my  patent  to  the  Publick  Voice." 

I 

AVe  are  further  told  that  "one  of  Mr.  Boss's  2:reat 
patrons,  the  Earl  of  Mansfield,  well  characterized  it  as 
'  a  very  good  copy  of  verses,  very  conciliating.'  "  * 

The  actor  himself  delivered  the  lines,  and  Mr. 
Boswell  oddly  adds  that  the  applause  was  secured  at 
the  proper  places  by  having  persons  judiciously  dispersed 
about  the  theatre.  "  The  efiect  upon  the  audience  was 
highly  flattering  to  the  author,  and  beneficial  to  the 
manager  ;  as  it  secured  to  the  latter,  by  the  annihilation 
of  the  opposition,  which  had  been  till  that  time  too 
successfully  exerted  against  him,  the  uninterrupted 
possession  of  his  patent,  which  he  enjoyed  till  his  death, 
which  happened  in  September,  1700.  Mr.  Boswell 
attended  his  funeral  as  chief  mourner,  and  paid  the 
last  honours  to  a  man  with  whom  he  had  spent  many 
a  pleasant  hour." 

In  the  dispute  about  the  Edinburgh  Theatre,  Boswell 
was  the  player's  counsel,  though  the  remuneration  he 

*  Boswell  was  not  satisfied  with  the  printed  report  of  his  pro- 
logue, and  wrote  to  the  Public,  Advertiser  on  June  12,  1768  : 

"  Sir, — I  observed  in  your  paper  a  very  incorrect  copy  of  a 
prologue  which  was  spoken  at  the  opening  of  our  Theatre  Royal. 
As  1  know  you  ai'e  ready  to  oblige  your  old  correspondents,  I 
doubt  not  but  you  will  do  me  the  favour  to  insert  a  genuine  copy." 


MliS.  BOSWELL — MARRIED   LIFE.  155 

received  was  not  ca  very  substnntial  one.  "His  spouse, 
the  celebrated  Fanny  Murray,  made  me  a  present  of 
some  very  pretty  straw  mats  for  setting  dishes  on. 
Lord  Aucliinleck  observed  to  me,  '  Well,  James,  she 
cannot  say  that,  then,  she  does  not  value  your  advice 
a  straw.' " 

Indeed,  like  many  of  his  cheerful  contemporaries, 
Boswell  took  much  interest  in  the  stage,  and  was 
acquainted  with  many  actors.  His  regard  for  Garrick, 
and  the  enthusiasm  of  the  Shakespeare  Jubilee  in  1769, 
prompted  him  to  write  some  essays  on  "  The  Profession 
of  a  Player,"  in  the  London  Magazine,  a  journal  in 
which  he  had  a  pecuniary  interest.  These  trifles,  though 
not  going  very  deep  into  the  subject,  show  his  usual 
clear  good  sense,  and  are  written  in  an  agreeable,  unpre- 
tending style.  Some  of  his  ideas  at  least  prompt 
further  speculation.  Thus  he  discusses  the  relations 
between  the  actor  and  his  character,  and  the  qualifica- 
tions requisite  on  the  stage.  Having  the  instance  of 
Garrick  before  him,  on  whom  he  lavishes  many  compli- 
ments, he  points  out  "that  more  genius,  knowledge, 
and  general  accomplishments  were  required  in  the 
player  than  in  any  other  profession,  and  that  he  should 
know,  like  the  physician  or  lawyer,  what  he  purposes 
to  do.  Though  it  may  be  objected  that  there  are  many 
ignorant  players,  brought  from  the  dregs  of  the  populace, 
who  set  their  audiences  in  a  roar ;  but  their  knowledge, 
and  a  great  variety  of  it,  too,  can  be  picked  up  in  the 
ordinary  practice  of  life." 

He  then  discusses  the  interesting  question  which 
was  dealt  with  so  acutely  by  Diderot,  in  his  famous 
essay,*  viz.  What  should  be  the  relation  between  the 

*  Lately  republished  by  my  friend,  ]\Ir.  Walter  Pollock,  with 
pleasant  and  original  introduction  by  IMr.  Irving. 


156  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

player  and  tlic  part  lie  assumes  ?     A  player,  lie  holds, 
should  in  a  certain  sense  be  the  character  he  represents. 
"  I  remember  to  have  heard  the  most  illustrious  author 
of  the  age,  whose  conversation  is  thought  by  many  to 
■excel  his  writings,  exert  his  eloquence  against  this  pro- 
position, and,  with  that  humour  for  which  he  is  dis- 
tinguished, render  it  exceedingly  ridiculous.      'If,  sir,' 
he  said,  '  Garrick  believes  himself  to  be  every  character 
that  he  represents,  he  is  a  mad-man,  and  ought  to  be 
confined.     Nay,   sir,  he  is  a  villain,  and  ought  to  be 
hanged.     If,  for  instance,  he  believes  himself  to  be  Mac- 
beth, he  has  committed  murder ;  he  is  a  vile  assassin  if 
he  has  really  been  that  person  in  his  own  mind,  he  has 
in  his  own  mind  been  as  guilty  as  Macbeth.' " 

He    then   explains  his  own  view  in  the  following 
sensible  words :   "My  notion  is,  the  player  must  have 
a  kind  of  double  feeling,  assume  the  character  and  retain 
the  consciousness  of  his  own."    This  is  followed  by  some 
general  remarks,  which  show  the  observation  of  a  man 
who  knows  the  world,  and  who  is  accustomed  to  society. 
It   makes   us  wonder   once    more  how  one  with  such 
sagacity  could  be  guilty  of  so  many  social  absurdities. 
"  Were  nothing  but  the  real  character  to  appear,  society 
would  not  be  half  so  safe  and  agreeable  as  we  find  it. 
We  adopt  for  our  ease  feelings  suitable  to  every  occasion, 
and  so,  like  the  players,  are  to  a  certain  degree  '  different 
characters  from  our  own.'     The  greater  degree  to  which 
fi  man  is  accustomed  to  assume  an  artificial  feeling,  the 
more  probability  there  is  that  he  has  no  character  of  his 
own  on  which  we  can  depend.     Hence  the  French,  Avho 
,are  celebrated  as  the  politest  people  in  Europe,  are  per- 
petual comedians.     Players,  one  should  thmk,  must  be 
very   entertaining   companions.      They   have   had   the 
.advantao-e  of  seeino:  a  great  deal  of  life,  as  it  is  their 


MBS.   n  OS  WELL — MAURIED   LIFE.  ]  aT 

))iisines8  to  exhibit  various  scenes  of  human  hfe,  their 
memories  stored  with  tales  of  every  sort,  with  in- 
numerable characters,  etc.  Accordingly  the  conversa- 
tion of  many  of  them  has  been  acknowledged  by  the 
best  judges  to  be  very  agreeable. 

"  Some  players,  indeed,  like  some  other  men  of 
genius,  will  be  found  dull  companions  enough  till  put 
in  agitation,  like  some  race-horses  who  are  restive  and 
good  for  nothing  till  warmed  l)y  velocity  of  motion." 
He  thus  concludes  with  this  curious  speculation : 
"  There  is  something  very  curious  and  interesting  in 
considering  that  players  who  have  entertained  us  so 
much  must  at  last  die  like  other  men.  How  curious  is 
it  to  think  that  they  who  have  so  often  counterfeited 
death,  and  again  appeared  in  all  the  lively  activity  and 
cheerfulness  of  life,  must  at  last  arrive  at  that  awful 
scene  when  life  is  to  be  no  more  ;  when  those  features 
which  have  been  so  often  employed  to  express  the 
varieties  of  human  passions  and  emotions  must  be  con- 
vulsed with  the  agonies  of  dissolution  ;  when  their 
organs  of  speech,  which  have  touched  so  many  hearts, 
must  for  ever  be  dumb ;  when  those  who  have  animated 
such  a  multiplicity  of  characters  must  sink  into  cold 
insensibility.  I  question  if  in  that  awful  scene  any 
player  ever  was  able  to  exert  his  talents." 

These  are  sensible  and  thoughtful  observations,  and 
show  that  Boswell  could  be  a  judicious  critic. 


158  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 


C'HAPTER  XIV. 

WORK    AT    THE    BAR — THE    LITERARY    CLUB. 

1771. 

These  and  other  occupatioiis  seem  to  have  reconciled 
Boswell  to  his  lot.  He  was  satisfied  with  his  lady,  though 
he  suffered  from  his  usual  affliction.  "  You  cannot  say 
too  much  to  me  of  my  wife.  How  dare  you  quote  to 
me  sua  si  bona  norint !  I  am  fully  sensible  of  my 
happiness  in  being  married  to  so  excellent  a  woman,  so 
sensilde  a  mistress  of  a  family,  so  agreeable  a  com- 
panion, so  aff'ectionate  and  peculiarl}^  proper  helpmate 
for  me.  I  own  I  am  not  so  much  on  my  guard  against 
fits  of  passion  or  gloom  as  I  ought  to  be,  but  that  is 
really  owing  to  her  great  goodness.  There  is  something 
childish  in  it,  I  confess  :  I  ought  not  to  indulge  in  such 
fits." 

In  the  September  of  1770,  his  first  child  was  born — a 
son  :  but  it  only  lived  two  hours.  The  father  indulged 
himself  in  some  philosophical  fancies  on  his  loss,  own- 
ino;  that  he  ouoht  not  to  mourn  for  what  he  had  not 
had  time  to  appreciate. 

He  was  now  applying  seriously  to  business,  and  wrote 
a  flourishino-  account  to  his  friend  of  his  increasino- 
employment  at  the  Bar.  "  I  do  not  say  that  neither 
Mr.  Yorke  nor  Mr.  Norton  can  be  busier  than  I  shall 


TVOBK  AT   THE  BAR — THE  LITER ABY   CLUB.      159 

he  tlic  week  tliafc  my  futlier  sits  as  Judge  in  the  Outer 
House  ;  for  you  must  know  that  the  absurdity  of  man- 
kind makes  nineteen  out  of  twenty  employ  the  son  of 
the  Judge  before  whom  their  cause  is  heard ;  and  you 
must  take  it  along  with  you  that  I  am  as  yet  but  a 
very  raw  counsellor,  so  that  a  moderate  share  of  business 
is  really  a  load  to  me.  I  have  now  cleared  eighty 
guineas.  INly  clerk  comes  to  me  every  morning  at  six, 
and  I  have  dictated  to  him  forty  folio  pages  in  one  day. 
I  am  doing  nobly ;  but  I  have  not  leisure  for  learning. 
It  is  very  odd  that  I  can  labour  so  hard  at  law,  when 
I  am  so  indolent  in  other  things."  *  He  was  also 
^ibtaining  some  employment  in  local  ecclesiastical  cases, 
though  he  declared  he  had  great  disgust  to  that  line  of 
business.  No  doubt,  he  was  not  likely  to  be  accept- 
■able  to  the  grim  fathers  of  the  Assembly,  t 

*  Boswell  united  hard  work  with  a  flippancy,  quite  out  of 
season,  and  which  coukl  not  have  recommended  him  to  the 
"  writers." 

Thus:  "In  177-i  there  came  on  befoi^e  the  Court  of  Session  a 
■cause  at  the  instance  of  a  black  for  having  it  declared  that  he 
was  free.  I  was  one  of  the  counsel.  We  took  no  fees  ;  and  I  said  I 
knew  one  thing,  that  it  Avas  a  Guinea  hlack." 

He  made  no  secret  of  his  dislike  to  the  Scotch  legal  system,  and 
was  always  extolling  that  of  the  English.  "  One  day,  when  causes 
were  called  in  the  Inner  House  in  an  irregular  manner,  and  not 
according  to  the  roll,  I  said  to  Crosbie,  '  The  English  courts  run 
straight  out  like  a  fox  ;  oui-s  double  like  a  hare.'  " 

He  also  favoured  appeals  to  the  Lords — no  doubt  because  they 
brouo-ht  him  to  town.  ''  It's  a  good  thing  for  Scotland  that  Ave 
can  appeal  to  the  House  of  Lords.  I  look  upon  that  court,  the 
House  of  Lords,  as  a  great  rolling  stone,  which  by  going  over  a 
cause  effectually  smooths  it  at  once,  when  our  fifteen  lords,  Avho 
have  been  breaking  the  clods  with  their  mallets  for  a  long  time, 
may  have  left  some  parts  rough;  or  sometimes  may  have  found 
large  masses  which  they  have  not  been  able  to  break  at  all." 

t  He  gives  this  little  sketch  of  himself  in  his  relations  with 
these  persons.  "On  the  2nd  December,  1782,  I  went  to  dine  at 
Walker's  tavern  with  a  committee  of  the  Presbytery  of  Edinburgh, 
who  were  taking  evidence  in  a  criminal  process.    The  agent  for  the 


160  LIFE    OF  JAMES  J] OS  WELL. 

It  will  be  intercstino'  to  follow  liim  into  court,  as 
it  were,  and  see  him  in  one  important  ecclesiastical  case- 
wliicli  was  now  attractin":  attention. 

In  one  of  his  conversations  with  his  Mentor,  Boswell:' 
alludes  to  some  writino-s  of  his  on  the  Kirk  of  Scotland, 
and  which  hitherto  have  escaped  notice.  As  I  have 
said,  he  got  employed  in  the  various  causes  that  came- 
before  the  General  Assembly,  though  he  confessed  he 
detested  this  sort  of  employment.  One  of  these,  relating 
to  the  appointment  of  a  Minister  to  a  cure,  caused  much 
debate.  It  came  before  the  Assembly  in  1771-2,  and 
the  point  in  question  was  thus  explained  by  Boswell. 

David  Thomson  having  received  a  presentation  ta 
be  Minister  at  St.  Ninian's,  a  great  number  of  people 
opposed  his  settlement,  and  on  various  pleas  staved  off 
on  various  occasions  a  decision  for  no  less  than  five  years. 
The  presbytery  of  Stirling  had  refused  to  transport,  i.e. 
translate  him  from  Gargamock  to  St.  Ninian's,  and  an 
appeal  was  brought  to  the  Assembly. 

"  The  counsel  for  the  patron  were  Sir  John  Dalrymple, 
Mr.  Bannatyne  Macleod,  and  Mr.  James  Boswell :  the 
counsel  for  the  people  was  '  the  Hon.  Mr.  Henry 
Erskine,  brother  to  the  Earl  of  Buchan.'  " 

Boswell  did  not  content  himself  with  professional 
service,  but  contributed  to  the  London  Magazine; 
vivacious  sketches  of  the  speakers  quite  worthy  of  the 

heritors  was  the  entertainer,  I  was  asked  to  take  tbe  head  of  the 
table  thus: — 'Mr.  Boswell,  you'Jl  take  this  end.'  'No,'  said  I, 
'the  Moderator  will  sit  there.'  'Then  you'll  take  this  end,'  the 
foot  of  the  table.  '  jSTo,'  said  I,  pointing  to  the  agent.  I  placed 
myself  about  the  middle  of  the  table,  and  said,  '  I  have  no  end  in 
view  but  a  good  dinner.'  Said  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  of  Edinburgh, 
'  The  end  is  lawful  if  the  means  be  good.'  "  Mr.  Boswell's  "  court 
jokes"  were  flat  enough  ;  such  as  that  on  the  macer,  who  was  so- 
hoarse  that  he  could  scarcely  be  heard  when  he  called  the  causes. 
"  I  said  he  had  no  voice  but  at  an  election." 


WORK  AT  THE  BAR — T/TE  LITERARY   CLUB.      161 

new  journalism  of  our  day.*  He  then  "touches  off" 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Webster  at  Edinburgh,  "celebrated  for  his 
copious  eloquence,  for  his  quaintness  of  repartee,  and 
for  his  abilities  in  calculation,  .  .  .  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Fairbairn  at  Dumbarton, — who  may  be  styled  the 
champions  of  the  popular  party,  who,  having  reckoned  so 
as  to  think  themselves  almost  sure  of  carrying  the  cause 
their  own  way,  pretty  j^lainly  spoke  out  this  before  the 
cause  had  been  heard,  which  was  not  altogether  regular." 
This  insinuation,  however,  the  editors  of  the  Scots 
Magazine  declare,  in  a  note,  was,  as  regards  Dr.  Webster, 
alto2;ether  without  foundation. 

Were  we  at  all  in  doubt  as  to  the  authorship  of  the 
report,  the  point  would  be  settled  by  Mr.  Boswell's  naive 
introduction  of  himself  as  the  first  speaker  introduced  ; 
while  he  takes  care  to  furnish  the  remarks  of  no  other 
counsel  in  the  case.  They  are  introduced  by  their  names 
simply. 

"  Mr.  Boswell  said  :  '  From  what  has  dropped  from 
two  distinguished  members,  there  is  great  reason  to  appre- 
hend two  formidable  batteries  are  planted  against  us. 
They  w^ere  not  indeed  masked  batteries  ;  for  we  will 
do  them  the  justice  to  say  they  were  very  open.  How- 
ever, if  it  should  be  mounting  a  breach,  we  must  now 
go  on !  We  have  fairly  taken  the  field  of  battle  con 
curritur,  and  although  not  liorce  momento,  yet,  in  a 
few  hours,  cita  mors  venit  aut  victoria  Iwta.' "  This 
laboured  metaphor  did  not  much  enlighten  the  case. 
Mr.  Fairbairn  then  attacked  Mr.  Boswell,  but  in  a  rather 
flattering  style : 

*  "  A  Sketch  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and 
the  state  of  pai'ties  in  it  at  present,  with  specimens  of  the  oratory 
of  some  of  the  most  distinguished  members  of  the  Church  now 
living,"  London  Magazine,  1772. 

VOL.  I.  M 


162  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

"  When  I  came  into  tliis  Assembly,  sir,  I  heard  of 
terrible  thino-s — I  heard  of  batteries,  I  heard  of  cannon. 
Sir,  when  a  member  of  this  Assembly  plants  his  battery 
against  arbitrary  power,  I  think  his  conduct  just  and 
respectable.  Hearing  so  many  warlike  terms,  I  thought 
I  had  undergone  some  magical  change,  and  been  suddenly 
conveyed  into  an  unhappy  island  where  the  batteries  of 
a  powerful  foe  have  been  but  too  successful  against 
freedom.  But,  sir,  I  did  not  expect  that  a  people 
struggling  for  liberty  would  be  attacked  by  the  friend 
of  Paoliy  It  was  then  added,  "The  gentleman  who 
favoured  us  with  this  account,  regrets  much  that  he 
could  not  procure  the  speech  of  the  Eev.  Mr.  Frame  at 
Alloa,  which  he  says  was  one  of  the  most  persuasive  and 
beautiful  speeches  on  the  side  of  the  people  that  ever 
was  pronounced." 

Then  follows  a  number  of  sketches  of  familiar  oratory, 
such  as  the  Rev.  Mr.  Meek's  jocular  utterance  that  "  our 
brother  Thomson  is  in  the  situation  of  a  lover  who  has 
improperly  fixed  his  afi"ections  on  an  object  cold  and 
indifferent ;  "  with  other  sallies,  all  set  out  with  peculiar 
relish.  This  shows  how  Boswell  practised  himself  in  the 
art  of  reporting.  At  the  close,  Mr.  Fairbairn  came  back 
to  Mr.  Boswell  :  "  This  morning,  sir,  we  were  told  from 
the  Bar  that  there  would  be  cita  mors  aut  victoi'ia  Iceta ; 
but,  sir,  something  very  wonderful  and  unexpected  has 
happened — we  have  both  cita  mors  and  victoria  Iceta.'' 
All  which  put  Mr.  Boswell  in  a  complacent  humour,  for 
he  winds  w^  his  report :  "  We  shall  only  add  a  repartee 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fairbairn's.  In  the  course  of  some  of 
the  debates,  one  Mr.  Dufi",  a  warm  country  clergyman, 
happened  to  talk  of  the  party  against  his  very  strongly, 
and  called  them  his  enemies.  Principal  Robertson  on 
this  got  up  and  expostulated  on  the  indecency  of  the  ex- 


WOBK  AT  THE  BAR— THE  LITERABY   CLUB.      1G3 

prcssion  the  '  enemy'  in  an  assembly  of  Christian  divines. 
The  tiling  was  likely  to  grow  somewhat  serious,  and  poor 
Duflfwas  not  without  danger  of  a  reprimand.  Mr.  Fair- 
bairn,  who,  though  firm  and  somewhat  rough,  has  good 
nature  equal  to  his  quickness,  replied  as  follows  : 
'  Moderator,  the  Eeverend  Principal  should  remember 
that  he  was  once  raw  and  w\arm  like  our  country  brother 
.  .  .  and,  sir,  to  go  a  little  farther,  I  do  beg  leave  to 
maintain  that  the  word  "  enemy  "  may  be  very  well  used 
in  an  assembly  of  Christian  divines,  for,  when  the  sons 
of  God  are  met,  Satan  is  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  he 
is  the  greatest  enemy  of  all.'  " 

Mr.  Bosw^ell,  however,  always  spoke  with  deep  con- 
tempt of  this  Assembly  business.  "  There  was  some- 
thing," he  said,  "  low  and  coarse  "  in  such  employment, 
"  but  guineas  must  be  had."  "  Do  you  know,  it  requires 
more  than  ordinary  spirit  to  do  what  I  am  to  do  this 
very  morning  ?  arraign  a  j  udgment  pronounced  last  year 
by  -Dr.  Robertson,  Sir  John  Home,  and  a  good  many 
more  of  them,  and  they  are  to  appear  on  the  other  side. 
To  speak  well,  when  I  despise  both  the  cause  and  the 
judges  is  difficult,  but  I  believe  I  shall  do  wonderfully." 

When  General  Paoli  came  to  England,  Bosw^ell  had 
made  himself  conspicuous  by  his  attentions,  acting  as  a 
sort  of  bear- leader.  Among  other  officious  steps  that 
he  took,  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Samuel  Vaughan,  offering  to 
bring  the  General  to  see  him,  adding,  "  I  live  at  Mr. 
Renard's  in  Bond  Street,  next  door  to  the  Bishop  of 
London's."  This  attention  was  declined  in  rather  tart 
lano;uao-e  :  "  Much  as  I  have  admired  and  revered  the 
late  distressed  patriot,  I  equally  despise  a  vain-glorious 
sycophant."  To  him,  in  reply  to  this  "  snub,"  Mr. 
Boswell  wrote:  "Sir,  you  may  believe  I  was  not  a 
little  surprised  with  your  letter  to  me.     How  could  you, 


164  LIFE    OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

who  SO  lately  appeared  the  friend  of  the  brave  Corsicans 
and  of  their  illustrious  chief,  all  at  once  take  up  such 
unworthy  suspicions  ?  Might  you  not  have  considered 
that  the  general,  whose  character  is  so  fully  established, 
knew  better  what  was  the  conduct  most  proper  to  pro- 
mote the  interests  of  his  country  than  you  could  do  ? 
and  ought  you  not  to  have  confidence  in  him  1  His 
Excellency  has  received  your  card  in  which  you  explain 
yourself  He  sees  your  motives,  your  manner  of  think- 
ing, and  how  you  have  been  misled,  and  therefore 
heartily  excuses  you ;  and  if  you  will  wait  on  him,  he 
will  with  pleasure  set  you  right,  and  convince  you  that 
your  suspicions  are  without  any  foundation."  On  this 
amiable  expostulation,  Mr.  Vaughan  apologized  for  his 
lansfuao-e. 

In  this  year,  1771,  he  was  enabled  to  return  the 
general's  civilities  in  Scotland,  "  showing  him  about " 
Edinburgh,  and  welcoming  him  at  his  family  seat, — 
to  his  father's  annoyance,  who  declared  that  after 
Doctor  Johnson  he  had  now  taken  up  "wi'  a  land- 
loupin'  fellow,"  and  that  Jamie  had  "  gane  clean  gyte." 
"  Yesterday,"  said  a  "  Letter  from  Edinburgh,"  in  a 
style  suspiciously  like  Boswell's,  "  General  Paoli  and 
Count  Bevinski  arrived  here,  who  came  purposely  to 
pay  a  visit  to  James  Boswell,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  who 
is  admired  for  his  magnanimity  of  spirit,  affability  of 
temper,  and  firmness  in  friendship.  He  received  the 
general,  his  particular  friend,  with  the  greatest  affection 
and  esteem.  On  Thursday  they  set  out  for  the  West,' 
accompanied  by  James  Boswell,  Esq.,  to  the  seat  of 
Lord  Auchinleck,  his  father." 

On  this  occasion  he  imparted  his  exultation  to  his 
friend  Garrick  :  "  Since  1  am  upon  the  serious  subject 
of  death,  I  cannot  help  expressing,  to  one  who  feels  as 


WOIiK  AT  THE  BAR — THE   LITERARY   CLUB.      165 

you  do,  that  I  am  afifectcd  with  much  melancholy  oii 
the  death  of  Mr.  Gray.  His  '  Elegy  in  a  Country  Church- 
yard '  has  been  long  like  a  part  of  myself  ...  I  have 
just  been  enjoying  the  very  great  happiness  of  a  visit 
from  my  illustrious  friend  Pascal  Paoli.  He  was  two 
nights  at  Auchiuleck,  and  you  may  figure  the  joy  of  my 
worthy  father  and  me  at  seeing  the  Corsican  Hero  in 
our  romantick  groves,  ...  I  had  latety  a  kind  letter 
from  our  friend  Mr.  Samuel  Johnson.  He  still  flatters 
me  with  hopes  of  seeing  him  among  the  rocks  of 
Scotland  ! "  * 

But  there  is  a  fuller  and  more  vivacious  account, 
furnished  by  Bos  well  himself  to  the  London  Magazine, 
and  written  under  the  influence  of  the  exultation  and 
triumph  of  the  occasion.  The  narrative  in  given  in  an 
agreeable,  natural  way,  and  I  am  sure  will  be  welcome 
to  the  reader. 

"  An  Authextic  Account  of  General  Paoli's  Tour  to 
Scotland,  Autumn,  1771. 

"  The  illustrious  Corsican  chief  was  all  along  resolved, 
since  he  arrived  in  Great  Britain,  to  make  a  tour  to 
Scotland,  and  visit  James  Boswell,  Esq.,  who  was  the 
first  gentleman  of  this  country  who  visited  Corsica,  and 
whose  writings  made  the  brave  islanders  and  their 
general  properly  known  and  esteemed  over  Europe. 
Engagements  of  a  serious  and  important  nature  pre- 
vented the  general  from  putting  his  scheme  into  execu- 
tion till  Monday,  August  26,  1771,  when  he  set  out 
from  London,  accompanied  by  his  Excellency  Count 
Beviuski,  the  Polish  ambassador.  After  staying  at 
Hagly  Park"  (on  which  Mr.  Boswell  seized  the  ojDpor- 

*  See,  also,  his  two  lettei'S  to  Garrick,  in  the  Garrick  corie- 
spondence. 


166  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

timity  to  compliment  Lord  Lyttleton),   "  tliey  reached 
Edinburgh    on   Monday,    September    3rd,    where   they 
stayed  incognito  at  Peter  Ramsay's  inn,  receiving  all 
sorts    of   attention   from   Lord    Abercorn    and    others. 
They  dined  at  Edinburgh  with  Mr.  Boswell  on  Thurs- 
day.    The  general  and  the  ambassador,  accompanied  by 
Mr.  Boswell,  set  out  early  in  the  morning  for  the  west, 
breakfasting    at    Linlithgow,    and    viewed    there    the 
ancient  palace  of  the  Scottish  kings.     They  then  viewed 
the  iron  works  at  Carron.     General  Paoli  had  a  pro- 
digious pleasure  in  viewing  the  forge  where  were  formed 
the  cannon  and  warlike  stores  which  a  society  of  gentle- 
men in  Scotland  sent  to  the  brave   Corsicans."      (Mr, 
Boswell  himself  was  the  head  of  this  society,  and  assumed 
the  chief  credit  of  the  present.)     "  The  party  passed  on 
to  Glasgow.     Here  they  walked  about  and  viewed  the 
beautiful  and  flourishing  city  of  Glasgow,  without  being- 
known.     But  by  the  time  they  got  to  the  university 
the  report  went  about  that  General  Paoli  was  in  town, 
and  then  everybody  was  in   motion,   crowding  to  see 
him.    Their  Excellencies  viewed  the  elegant  printing,  and 
academy  of  paintings,  sculpture,  etc.,  of  the  Scottish 
Stephani,  the  Messrs.  Foulis,  who  were  transported  with 
enthusiasm  to   see  such  visitors.     The  University  was 
not  sitting,  but  there  luckily  happened  to  be  there  the 
Professors   Moor,    Muirhead,   Anderson,    Trail,   Wilson, 
Read,   and    Stevenson,  who  showed  the    university  to 
great  advantage,  and  entertained  their  Excellencies  and 
a  number  of  other  s:entlemen  of  distinction  with  wine 
and    sweatmeats    in   the    library.      The  magistrates  of 
Glasgow  behaved  with  that  dignity  and  propriety  which 
might  be  expected  from  gentlemen  of  commerce,  and 
consequently    enlarged     minds ;     gentlemen    of    great 
fortunes,  and  consequently  independent  spirits.     They 


WOBK  AT  THE  BAR — THE  LITERARY   CLUB.      1G7 

considered  it  an  honour  to  their  city  to  show  every 
mark  of  respect  to  so  distinguished  and  truly  estimable 
a  personage  as  General  Paoli.  They  therefore  met  their 
Excellencies  at  the  Cross,  as  they  understood  they  were 
just  setting  out  for  Auchinleck,  and  most  politely  asked 
the  honour  of  their  company  to  dinner  on  Tuesday. 
The  streets  and  windows  of  Glasgow  were  quite  full  of 
spectators,  and  everybody  was  happy  at  having  an 
opportunity  of  seeing  General  Paoli.  .  .  .  Mr.  Boswell 
well-conducted  their  Excellencies  that  evenino-  to  Aucliin- 
leek,  the  seat  of  his  father,  who  was  extremely  happy 
to  receive  such  guests." 

It  will  be  recollected  that  the  laird  described  his 
distinguished  guest  as  a  "  land-loupin  chief." 

"  They  stayed  there  Friday  night  and  all  Saturday, 
walked  a  great  deal,  and  saw  the  place  as  much  as  they 
could  do  for  the  time."  On  the  Sunday  they  set  out 
on  their  travels,  breakfasting  with  Mr.  Campbell,  of 
Treesbank,  Bosvv^ell's  relation.  At  Stewartson  they  were 
met  by  gentlemen  of  the  county,  "  who,  with  a  detachment 
of  the  tenants  of  Auchinleck,  conveyed  their  Excellencies 
to  the  marsh  of  the  shire."  After  various  adventures, 
the  party  returned  to  Glasgow,  where  the  civic  dinner 
came  off  at  the  Saracen's  Head,  ''  with  the  Kis^ht  Honour- 
able  Colin  Dunlop,  Esquire,  Lord  Provost,  and  three 
other  magistrates,  Lord  Frederick  Campbell,  member 
for  the  city,  and  a  number  of  other  gentlemen  of  dis- 
tinction— in  all,  fifty-two  at  table ;  and,  after  dinner 
their  Excellencies  were  presented  with  the  freedom  of 
the  city,  which  they  accepted  in  the  politest  manner. 
On  Wednesday,  September  11th,  they  got  back  to  Edin- 
burgh about  noon,  and  honoured  Mr.  Boswell  with 
their  company  all  that  day.  The  ambassador  lodged 
at  Dr.  Gregory's ;  the  general  slept  under  the  roof  of 


168  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

his  ever-grateful  friend.  On  Thursday,  September  12th, 
they  set  out  on  their  return  to  Enghind.  During 
General  Paoli  and  the  ambassador's  short  stay  they 
enjoyed  the  company  of  most  people  of  distinction, 
learning,  and  genius  who  were  in  town ;  and,  without 
any  flourish  or  parade  of  words,  it  may  truly  be  said  that 
this  visit  to  Scotland  will  be  remembered  in  the  most 
pleasing  and  honourable  manner." 

Such  was  the  pleasant  and  genuine  account  of  this 
little  progress,  in  which  the  "  personal  conductor  "  evi- 
dently took  pride.  It  was  curious  that  he  should  have 
thus  escorted  his  two  idols  in  excursions  throuo-h.  his 
native  land.^  Nor  can  it  be  denied  that  the  success  of 
both  expeditions  was  chiefly  owing  to  his  untiring 
fussiness  and  due  ventilation  of  the  importance  of  the 
person  he  was  attending.  General  Paoli,  we  may  be 
sure,  owed  his  hearty  reception  to  his  companion's  hints 
and  panegyrics,  who  was  quite  content  to  be  thus 
described — "attended  by  Mr.  Boswell." 

Soon  after  Boswell  had  "  settled  down,"  he  seems  to 
have  begun  a  system  of  testing  the  regard  of  his 
great  friend  by  long  silences,  always  a  frivolous  and 
dangerous  experiment.  He  actually  allowed  a  year 
and  a  half  to  pass  by  without  addressing  Dr.  Johnson  a 
single  letter;  and  at  last,  in  April,  1771,  recommenced 
the  corres23ondence  with  these  odd,  and  rather  inconse- 
quential excuses  : — 

"My  Dear  Sir, — I  can  now  fully  understand  those 
intervals  of  silence  in  your  correspondence  with  me, 
which  have  often  given  me  anxiety  and  uneasiness ; 
for,  although  I  am  conscious  that  my  veneration  and 
love  for  Mr.  Johnson  have  never  in  the  least  abated,  yet 
I  have  deferred  for  almost  a  year  and  a  half  to  write 
to  him." 


WOEK  AT  TIJE  BAB— THE  LITEBABY  CLUB.      1G9 

Johiisou,  not  UDiuiturally,  allowed  a  long  time  to 
pass  without  noticing  this  appeal,  and  replied  with 
some  coldness  :  "If  you  arc  now  able  to  comprehend 
that  I  mis!;ht  neojlect  to  write  without  diminution  of 
affection,  you  have  taught  me,  likewise,  how  that 
neglect  may  be  uneasily  felt  without  resentment.  I 
wished  for  your  letter  a  long  time,  and,  when  it  came, 
it  amply  recompensed  the  delay.  I  never  was  so  much 
pleased  as  now  with  your  account  of  yourself ;  and  sin- 
cerely hope,  that  between  public  business,  improving 
studies,  and  domestic  pleasures,  neither  melancholy  nor 
caprice  will  find  any  place  for  entrance.  .  .  .  My  dear 
sir,  mind  your  studies,  mind  your  business,  make  your 
lady  happy,  and  be  a  good  Christian  after  this.  .  .  . 
If  we  perform  our  duty,  we  shall  be  safe  and  steady, 
Sive  'per,  etc.,  whether  we  climl)  the  Highlands,  or  are 
tossed  among  the  Hebrides  ;  and  I  hope  the  time  will 
come  when  we  may  try  our  powers  both  with  cliffs  and 
water." 

This  was  good,  sensible  advice,  and  it  were  devoutly 
to  be  wished  that  Boswell  had  taken  it  to  heart. 

In  March,  1772,  Boswell,  as  usual,  "ran  up"  to 
London,  on  the  excuse  of  business.  It  was  on  this 
occasion  that  he  furnished  a  rather  touchino;  evidence 
of  his  attachment  to  his  friend.  On  April  9th,  he  had 
asked  Johnson  to  dine  with  him  at  the  Mitre.  But  the 
doctor,  for  some  mysterious  reason,  "  had  resolved  not 
to  dine  at  all  this  day,  and  I  was  so  unwilling,"  says 
Boswell,  unaffectedly,  "to  be  deprived  of  his  company, 
that  I  was  content  to  suffer  a  want  which  was  at  first 
somewhat  painful ;  but,  he  soon  made  me  forget  it,  and 
a  man  is  always  pleased  with  himself  when  he  finds  his 
intellectual  inclinations  predominate,"  This  "  going 
without  one's  dinner"  is  certainly  sincere,    if  painful, 


170  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

earnest  of  enthiisicasm  and  affection.  The  business  wliicli 
liad  brought  Boswell  to  London  was  an  appeal  to  the 
House  of  Lords  in  a  Scotch  schoolmaster's  case,  and 
which,  on  April  14th,  was  decided  by  reversing  the 
decision  of  the  Scotch  tribunals.  He  returned  home 
about  the  beginning  of  May. 

In  April,  of  the  following  year  (1773),  he  again  paid 
another  visit  to  town.  No  doubt  the  business  that 
brouerht  him  was  his  momentous    candidature   for  the 

o 

Literary  Club,  the  balloting  being  fixed  for  April  30th. 
He  himself  "  canvassed "  zealously,  and  his  patron 
exerted  himself  warmly.  "  Sir,  you  got  into  our  club," 
said  the  doctor  to  him  in  the  Hebrides,  "  by  doing  what 
a  man  can  do."  "  This,  I  find,"  adds  Boswell  oddly,  "is 
considered  obscure.*'  He  concluded  that  Johnson  meant 
"  he  earnestly  and  assiduously  recommended  himself  to 
some  of  the  members."  There  were  several  persons,  as 
Johnson  told  him,  "who  wished  to  keep  him  out:" 
Burke  doubted  "if  he  were  fit  for  it."  The  doctor 
assured  him  that  when  he  was  in,  none  were  sorry. 
"  Burke  says  you  have  so  much  good  humour  naturally, 
it  is  scarcely  a  virtue."  It  seems  odd,  certainly,  print- 
ing this  compliment.  With  his  usual  lack  of  tact  he 
could  thus  speak  of  the  members  who  had  so  welcomed 
him  :  "  They  were  afraid  of  you,  sir,"  Johnson  declared; 
"but  they'd  never  have  got  in  another."  It  must  be 
said  it  was  contrived  that  the  business  should  be 
made  as  "safe"  as  possible.  Beauclerk  gave  a  dinner 
specially,  on  the  night  of  election,  April  30th,  to  which 
were  asked  Sir  Joshua,  Lord  Charlemont,  and  a  few 
others  of  the  same  importance.  After  dinner,  when  the 
gentlemen  went  away,  Boswell  was  left  behind — "  till  the 
fate  of  my  election  should  be  announced  to  me."  News 
soon  arrived  that  he  had  been  successful.    He  had,  in 


WORK  AT  THE  BAR— THE  LITERARY  CLUB.      171 

fact,  scarcely  been  in  peril ;  for,  in  addition  to  Buauclerk's 
guests,  there  were  only  Burke,  Garrick,  Dr.  Nugent, 
Goldsmith  and  Jones,  who  were  all  well  disposed  to  him. 
Boswell  must  have  been  an  agreeable  addition,  with  his 
gossip  and  his  own  pleasant  absurdities. 

During  the  ballot,  as  we  have  said,  Boswell  had 
been  left  behind,  and  as  his  host  had  been  so  kind,  he 
took  care  to  introduce  a  compliment  into  the  second 
edition  of  his  book:  "  I  sat  in  a  state  of  anxiety  which 
not  even  the  charming  society  of  Lady  Di  Beauclerk 
could  dissipate."  Yet  he  could  publish,  a  few  pages 
further  on,  a  strann;e  discussion  on  a  nameless  divorced 
lady,  whom  he  attempted  thus  to  excuse:  "seduced, 
perhaps,  by  the  charms  of  the  lady  in  question."  He 
enumerated  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  which 
showed  that  "  Lady  Di "  was  intended,  and  with  the 
result  of  making  Johnson,  who  took  the  opposite  side, 
apply  to  her  one  of  the  coarsest  words  known  in  the 
language.  All  which  must  have  been  recognizable  by 
her  friends.  The  compliment,  the  defence,  and  Johnson's 
coarse  description  make  the  oddest  combination  con- 
ceivable. As  is  well  known,  she  had  eloped  with  the 
gay  Mr.  Beauclerk  from  her  husband.  Lord  Boling- 
broke,  owing  to  his  cruel  treatment.  But  the  unhappy 
lady  fared  no  better  with  her  new  choice.  It  will  be 
a  surprise  to  many  Boswellians  who  admire  the  lively, 
good-natured  Beauclerk,  to  find  that  he  was  a  cruel 
and  neoiectful  husband. 

From  all  this  trifling,  he  turned  to  prepare  for 
that  celebrated  and  remarkable  travelling  expedition 
with  his  friend,  which  he  had  looked  forward  to  and 
planned  for  years,  and  to  which  he  had  induced  Johnson 
to  consent.  It  was  certainly  a  triumph  to  prevail  on 
one  so  prejudiced  to  undertake  a  serious  journey  to  see 


172  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL, 

a  country  he  disliked.  But  Jolinson  had  also  in  view 
a  literary  speculation,  and  proposed  turning  his  travels 
into  "copy;"  and,  as  it  proved,  had  a  handsome  profit 
from  the  transaction. 

The  great  attraction  found  in  the  study  of  Boswell 
and  his  book,  lies  in  the  complexities  of  character  there 
revealed.  Nowhere  do  we  find  its  phenomena  so 
curiously  and  so  pleasantly  displayed.  This  view  has 
scarcely  been  opened,  numerous  as  are  the  commentaries. 
By  and  by,  no  doubt,  we  shall  have  a  formal  study 
of  the  psychology  of  Boswell.  In  this  view  nothing- 
is  more  entertaining  than  the  little  arts  which,  almost 
unconsciously,  our  author  exhibited  when  he  wished  to 
appear  particularly  clever  and  sagacious  :  and  on  this 
occasion  he  prepared  a  train  of  devices  to  stimulate  the 
ardour  of  his  friend.  He  wrote  a  number  of  letters  to 
persons  in  Edinburgh,  inviting  replies,  and  hinting 
plainly  that  these  should  express  a  sort  of  eager  antici- 
pation for  Johnson  s  coming.  "  I  hope  you  will,  without 
delay,  write  me,  what  I  know  you  think,  that  I  may 
read  it  to  the  mighty  sage,  with  proper  emphasis." 
Dr.  Beattie  "  was  as  good  as  his  word,  and  threw  some 
pleasing  motives  into  the  northern  scale."  Everything 
was  to  be  done  "  to  attract  him," — Dr.  Eobertson  also 
was  invited  to  forward  the  scheme,  and  "in  his  answer  to 
express  himself  concerning  it  with  that  power  which 
may  be  so  directed  as  to  operate  strongly  upon  him." 
Thus  ingenious  plan  had  the  happiest  effect,  and  stirred 
up  the  Scotch  literati  into  some  flattering  demonstra- 
tions which  really  influenced  Johnson.* 

*  The  reader  will  recall  many  other  devices  of  the  kind.  On 
a  later  occasion  he  employed  the  same  form  to  ^et  Johnson  to 
visit  Mr.  Young-,  a  relation  of  the  poet's.  Says  Boswell,  "  Here 
some  address  was  requisite :    for  I  was  not  acquainted  with  Mr. 


WORK  AT  THE  BAP. — THE  LITEM ARY   CLUB.      17 


o 


Youno',  and  liad  I  proposed  to  Dr.  Johnson  that  wc  sliould  send  to 
liim,  he  would  have  checked  my  wish  and  perhaps  been  oifended. 
I,  therefore,  concerted  with  Mr.  Dilly,  that  I  should  steal  away 
and  try  what  reception  I  could  procTire  from  Mr.  Young  :  if  un- 
favourable, nothino-  was  to  bo  said ;  but  if  agreeable,  I  should 
return  to  notify  it  to  them.  I  hastened  to  Mr.  Young's,  found  he 
was  at  home,  sent  in  word  that  a  gentleman  desired  to  wait  upon 
liim."  He  was  asked  to  tea.  ''  I  thanked  him,  but  said,  that  I 
inust  return  to  the  inn  to  drink  tea  with  Dr.  Johnson ;  that  mj 
name  was  Boswell,  1  had  travelled  with  him  in  the  Hebrides. 
'  Sir,'  said  he,  '  I  should  think  it  a  great  honour  to  see  Dr.  Johnson 
here.  Will  you  allow  me  to  send  for  him  ?  '  Availing  myself  of 
this  opening,  I  said  that  '  I  would  go  myself  and  bring  him,  when 
he  had  drunk  tea  ;  he  knew  nothing  of  my  calling  here.'  Having 
been  thus  successful,  I  hastened  back  to  the  inn,  and  informed 
Dr.  Johnson  that  '  Mr.  You.ng,  son  of  Dr.  Young,  the  authour  of 
'  Night  Thoughts,'  whom  I  had  just  left,  desired  to  have  the 
honour  of  seeino-  him  at  the  house  where  his  father  lived.'  D?-. 
Johnson  luchily  made  no  enquiry  lioio  this  invitation  had  arisen,  but 
agreed  to  go,  and  when  he  entered  Mr.  Young's  parlour,  he  addressed 
him  with  a  very  polite  bow."  The  result  was  that  Mr.  Young  fancied 
that  the  happy  thought  had  occurred  to  him  of  asking  the  great 
"cham"  of  letters,  and  did  not  suspect  that  his  visitor  had  come 
purposely  to  extract  the  invitation;  while  Johnson  believed  that  a 
spontaneous  message  had  been  sent  to  him. 


174  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 


Z\T 


CHAPTER  X\ 

THE    TOUR   IN   THE    HEBRIDES. 

I//0. 

BoswELL,    with   liis   usual   adroitness,    had    no    doubt 
planned  this  enterprise,  not  merely  for  the  enjoyment 
of  the  society  of  his  friend,  but    also  with   the  view 
of    bringing   himself    prominently   before   the    public. 
It  was  a  real  triumph,  for  he  figured  as  the  guide  and 
friend    of  the  sage ;  and  as  the  latter  was  to  write  a 
chronicle  of  their  progress,  he  would  come  in  for  his  full 
share  of  credit.     Indeed,  Johnson  opened  his  chronicle 
with  a  very  handsome  compliment  to  his  friend,  to  the 
effect  that  he  was  "  induced  to  undertake  the  journey 
by  finding  in  Mr.  Boswell  a  companion  whose  acuteness 
would  hel]3  any  inquiry,  and  whose  gaiety  of  conversa- 
tion and  civility  of  manner  are  sufficient  to  counteract 
the   inconveniences   of  travel."      And  it  must  be  said 
never  was  compliment  better  deserved.     Boswell's  un- 
flagging good  humour  and  good  temper,  his  energy  in 
carrying  through  the  enterprise,  his  gaiety  and  lively 
talk,    and   his    success    in   overcoming   difficulties   and 
finding  opportunities   for  amusing  Johnson,  were  dis- 
played   in    a   remarkable    manner.       He    bore   the   ill 
humour  and  often  offensive  taunts  of  his  friend  in  the 
most  jDatient  way. 


'^^if.ii^mffr^ 


DR.   JOHNSON  IN  HIS  TRAVELLING   DRESS. 


THE   TOUR   IN   THE  IJE BRIDES.  175 

It  was  a  great  event  in  the  life  of  Boswell  when, 
on  the  evening  of  Saturday,  the  14th  of  August, 
1773,  a  note  was  brought  to  him  from  Boyd's  inn  in 
the  Canongate,  known  as  the  White  Horse,  written 
with  the  pleasant  formality  which  then  prevailed,  even 
amono;  intimate  friends : 

o 

"  August  14th,  Saturday  night. 

"  Mr.  Johnson  sends  his  compliments  to  Mr.  Boswell, 
being  just  arrived  at  Boyd's."  * 

Boswell  flew  to  him,  and  was  embraced  by  him 
cordially,  as  he  had  been  embraced  on  his  departure  for 
Holland.  Here  is  a  curious  chanoe  in  our  manners  ; 
for  it  is  forgotten  that  this  foreign  custom  ever  ob- 
tained in  England.  Boswell  carried  him  off  to  his  own 
house,  where  he  was  received  in  a  rather  dry,  cold  way 
by  Mrs.  Boswell,  who,  it  is  plain,  disliked  the  incursion. 
At  first  she  controlled  herself,  and  tried  to  please  him, 
actually  giving  up  her  own  room,  which  her  husband 
publicly  acknowledged  "  gratefully,  as  one  of  a  thousand 
obligations  I  owe  her  since  her  great  obligation  of  being- 
pleased  to  accept  of  me  as  a  husband."  This  funny  testi- 
monial must  have  caused  many  a  smile  among  Bozzy's 
friends.  In  course  of  time  the  perpetual  trouble  of 
attending  to  his  wants  quite  tired  her  out,  and  on  his 

*  Boyd's  White  Horse  was  in  the  Grass  Market.  A  traveller, 
writing  in  1779,  describes  it  as  "mean  buildings,  their  apart- 
ments dirty  and  dismal,  and,  if  the  waiters  happened  to  be  out  o£ 
the  way,  a  stranger  will  perhaps  be  shocked  by  the  novelty  of  being 
shown  into  the  room  by  a  dirty  sunburnt  wench,  without  shoes 
or  stockings."  The  truth  was,  these  houses  were  used,  for  keeping 
hox'ses ;  and.  guests,  unless  of  a  very  temporary  sort,  Avere  conveyed 
to  lodgings  :  so  that  Johnson,  had.  he  known  of  these  things,  might 
have  added  to  his  sneer,  as  to  "  the  food  of  horses  in  Scotland  being 
that  of  men,"  that  the  stables  were  used  to  accommodate  men. 


17G  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOS  WELL. 

return  slie  let  him  see  that  she  found  him  disao-reeable, 
and  was  eager  for  him  to  be  gone.  This  was  expressed 
so  plainly  that  Johnson,  on  his  first  letter  after  his 
return,  wrote  bluntly,  "  I  know  Mrs.  Bos  well  wished 
me  well  to  go  ;  her  wishes  have  not  been  disappointed  : " 
on  which  Boswell,  with  some  naivete  remarks,  "  In  this 
he  showed  a  very  acute  penetration."  He  complains 
that  his  irreo;ular  hours  and  uncouth  habits,  such  as 
"  turning  the  candles  with  their  heads  downwards  when 
they  did  not  burn  brightly  enough,  and  letting  the  wax 
drop  upon  the  carpet,  could  not  but  be  disagreeable 
to  her." 

It   is    remarkable  what    suitable  and  distinguished 
people  Boswell  asked  to   meet  his  guest,   such  as  the 
old  Duchess  of  Douglas ;  the   Chief  Baron,  Orde ;  Lord 
Hailes  ;  the  Commander-in-Chief ;   Sir  AVilliam  Forbes  : 
with   Drs.    Eobertson,    Blair,   Blacklock,  Gregory,  and 
Adam  Fergusson.     It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that 
this  was,  of  course,  no  particular  compliment  to  the  host 
himself,  but  that  the  wish  to  meet  so  great  a  personage 
as  the  doctor  was  an  irresistible  attraction.     The  good- 
natured  Boswell  was  indefatigable  in  his  efforts  to  amuse 
his  friend.     Among  the  guests  was  a  person  who  does 
not  figure  in  the  chronicle — Dr.  Boswell,  his  uncle.     The 
nephew,  however,  does  not  give  us  a  single  remark  of 
his  relation.     There  was  much  exhibition  of  the  lions  of 
the  city,  suppers,  etc. ;    in  short,  Boswell  did  his  part 
admirably.     These  opening  scenes  have  good  local  colour ; 
the  reader  feels  that  he  is  on  a  sort  of  holiday,  and 
is  visiting  a  strange   city.     The   persons  who  appear 
for   a  moment  are  dramatically  put   in.     We  see  the 
great  doctor  led  about  in  Parliament  Close,  closely  fol- 
lowed and  pointed  out.      It  w^as  said,  indeed,  that  one 
of  the  rough  wdts  of  the  Bar,  Harry  Erskine,  on  being 


THE   TOUR   IN   TTIE  IlEBRIBES.  177 

presented  by  Boswell  to  his  guest,  slyly  pressed  ;i 
shilling  into  Boswell's  palm,  as  payment  "  for  the  sight 
of  his  bear."  *  Nothing  is  more  to  be  admired  in  this 
tour  than  Boswell's  unflagging  patience  and  good 
humour,  and  the  unwearied  and  successful  efforts  he 
made  to  secure  what  would  effectively  contribute  to  the 
enjoyment  of  his  companion.  He  put  up  with  all 
outbursts  of  ill-temper,  was  always  in  spirits  himself, 
and,  in  short,  was  a  capital  fellows-traveller.  In  his 
private  letters  to  Mrs.  Thrale,  Johnson  gave  him  this 
testimonial  :  "  I  shall  celebrate  his  good  humour  and 
perpetual  cheerfulness.  He  has  better  faculties  than  I 
had  imagined,  and  more  justness  of  discernment,  and 
more  fecundity  of  images.  It  is  very  convenient  to 
travel  with  him,  for  there  is  no  house  where  he  is  not 
received  with  kindness  and  respect."  These  qualities 
certainly  go  to  prove  that  his  was  no  trivial  character  ; 
which  certainly  could  not  have  stood  the  test  of  such 
trials.  Goldsmith  had,  indeed,  warned  him  angrily, 
"that  Johnson  would  be  a  deadweight,"  and  that  he 
would  never  be  able  to  "  lug  him  through  the  High- 
lands ; "  but  the  undaunted  Boswell  saw  no  difficulties. f 


*  In  the  Advocates'  Library  is  a  pleasing  memorial  of  the  tour — 
a  copy  of  Martin's  "  St.  Kilda,"  witli  the  inscription  in  Boswell's 
handwriting :  "  This  book  accompanied  Mr.  Johnson  and  me  on 
our  tour  through  the  Hebrides." 

t  Even  in  the  opening  scene  of  his  pilgrimage,  Boswell  dis- 
plays his  usual  want  of  tact  in  mentioning  his  friends,  owing  to 
the  awkward  but  well-meaning  fashion  in  which  he  praised 
them  ;  as  when  speaking  of  one  of  the  guests  invited  to  meet 
Dr.  Johnson  at  Edinburgh :  "  Mr.  Murray,  advocate,  who  married 
a  niece  of  Lord  Mansfield's,  and  is  now  one  of  the  judges  of  Scot- 
land, by  the  title  of  Lord  Henderland,  sat  with  us  part  of  the 
evening,  but  did  iTot  ventui'e  to  say  anything  that  I  remember, 
though  he  is  certainly  possessed  of  talents  which  would  have 
enabled  him  to  have  shown  himself  to  advantage  if  too  great 
anxiety  had  not  prevented  him  '' — in  spite  of  which  compliment 
this  gentleman  could  not  have  been  gratified  at  the  sketch.     But, 

VOL.  I.  N 


178  LIFE   OF  JAMES  II  OS  WELL. 

On  the  Monday,  August  18th,  they  set  out.  They 
were  to  ride,  walk,  and  go  by  boat,  according  to  their 
needs.  They  were  attended  by  BosweU's  Bohemian 
servant :  the  doctor,  as  Boswell  says,  thinking  "  it 
unnecessary  to  put  himself  to  the  expense  "  of  bringing 
his  own  man  ;  the  truth  being,  the  doctor  thought  that 
BosweU's  servant  would  serve  for  both.  At  the  end  of 
the  journey,  a  balance  was  owing  to  Boswell,  which 
Johnson  discharged  in  his  own  fashion — selecting  from 
his  shelves  a  number  of  old  books,  packing  them  in  a 
box,  and  sending  them  off  as  payment  of  his  debt ! 
Boswell  was  rather  disgusted  at  this  mode  of  acquittance. 
A  ''stall  library"  he  called  them,  and  did  not  care  to 
open  the  box, — which  put  his  friend  much  out  of  humour. 

They  reached  St.  Andrew's  next  day,  and  passed  to 
the  eccentric  Lord  Monboddo's,  who  entertained  them 
at  dinner,  behaving  like  a  gentleman  of  the  old  and 
stately  school,  and  who  showed  himself  courteous  and 
obliging  in  many  ways.  It  was  strange,  therefore,  that 
Boswell  should  afterwards  have  never  mentioned  him 
without  coarse  ridicule  and  contempt.  This  rather 
remarkable  personage  scarcely  deserved  the  laughter  and 
jeers  with  which  his  theories  as  to  men  having  tails, 
or  being  scarcely  removed  from  apes,  were  greeted.  In 
our  day  these  matters  are  solemnly  debated  as  belong- 
ing to  scientific  process.  He  maintained  that  men  were 
gradually  divested  of  their  tails  by  a  process  of  "  develop- 
ment "  or  "  continued  docking."  Another  theory  for 
which  he  was  ridiculed,  was  that  the  Greek  language 
alone  was  worthy  of  study  as    the  most   efficient  and 

as  Boswell  frankly  said  of  himself,  "  lie  had  rather  too  little  than 
too  much  prudence,  and,  his  imagination  being  Hvelj,  he  often 
said  things  of  which  the  effect  was  very  dilferent  from  the 
intention." 


Tim   TOUR   IN   THE  HEBRIDES.  179 

expressive ;  txud  lie  was  loud  in  liis  condemnation  of  the 
modern  "fine"  writing  and  artificial  periods  of  Kobert- 
son  and  others.  Here,  again,  he  seemed  rational  enough. 
His  whole  course  was  marked  by  a  steady  assertion  of 
principle  and  of  even  self-denial.  AVlien  he  was  offered 
a  seat  in  the  Court  of  Justiciary  he  declined  it,  as  it 
would  interfere  with  his  literary  studies.  He  always 
rose  at  a  very  early  hour,  and  it  was  said,  used  to  take 
what  he  called  an  "  air  bath  " — walking  about  for  some 
time  without  his  clothes.  On  his  journeys  to  London, 
he  always  rode,  disdaining  the  use  of  a  chaise  ;  and  ouce, 
when  between  eighty  and  ninety,  he  was  seized  with  an 
illness,  and  w^ould  have  died  on  the  road,  but  for  a  friend 
who  insisted  on  his,  for  once,  using  his  carriage.  He 
had  many  domestic  trials  in  the  loss  of  his  children. 
His  daughter  was  celebrated  for  her  beauty  and  engaging 
(jualities :  and  still  more  for  her  filial  affection,  which 
made  her  decline  many  advantageous  offers,  to  remain 
with  her  father.  She  was  sung  by  Burns: — "Fair 
(Burnet)  strikes  tli'  adoring  eye."  She  died  before  her 
father.  We  must  regret,  therefore,  that  Boswell,  who 
was  often  betrayed  into  breaches  of  decorum  and 
good  feeling,  should  have  ridiculed  this  worthy  old 
judge,  wdio  welcomed  him  with  such  dignified  hospi- 
tality.'* 

*  Ml'.  Pryce  Gordon,  a  lively  but  eccentric  Scot  himself,  de- 
scribes a  droll  scene  :  "  Lord  Karnes  was  the  great  literary  lion 
of  his  day.  In  manners  he  was  quite  a  contrast  to  his  brother  of  the 
bench,  being  plain,  and  blunt  in  speech,  witb  a  strong  Scottish, 
accent,  while  Monboddo  was  quite  a  courtier  of  the  ancien  regime, 
well-bred,  and  ceremonious.  In  the  celebrated  work  on  man,  the 
author  asserts  that  men  originally  had  tails,  bat  bad  worn  them 
off  by  sitting  on  chairs!  On  one  occasion,  in  Edinburgh,  wheu 
Kanies  and  ''Monboddo  met  to  dine  with  a  friend,  a  girl  of  six  or 
seven  years  old,  who  was  in  the  drawing-room,  archly  and  slyly 
attached  a  fox's  brush  to  Monboddo's  skirt ;  and  the  ceremony  of 
who  should  first  proceed  to  the  dining-room  as  usual  produced  some 


180  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

By  the  21st,  tlicy  were  at  Aberdeen,  where  the 
professors  were  cordial  and  hospitable,  and  Johnson 
received  the  freedom  of  the  city,  walking  about  with 
the  ticket  in  his  hat.  Again,  of  this  university  town, 
where  they  were  received  witli  such  honour,  Boswell 
chose  to  sj^eak  with  something  like  contempt,  which 
gave  deep  offence. 

They  were  then  invited  to  Glamis  Castle,  Lord  Errol's, 
Dr.  Johnson  having  been  "  espied  in  church  by  Lady 
Di  Middleton."  Their  stay  at  this  mansion  furnished 
Boswell  with  another  of  his  agreeable  and  artistic  sketches, 
the  figures  and  conversation  being  brought  before  us  in 
a  lifelike  way,  with  the  tone  of  a  country  house.  On 
the  28th,  they  came  to  Fort  George,  where  they  were 
welcomed  by  Sir  Eyre  Coote,  passiug  on  to  Fort 
Augustus  —  now  a  Benedictine  College — in  which  he 
furnished  us  with  some  agreeable,  spirited  sketches  of 
garrison  life.  On  September  1st,  Boswell's  good  humour 
was  put  to  a  sore  trial.  He  thought  he  would  ride  on 
a  little  in  advance  to  the  inn,  to  have  everything  com- 
fortable for  his  friend,  when  the  doctor  roared  to  him 
to  come  back,  in  a  tremendous  passion,  said  he  was 
"uncivil,"  called  it  "picking  pockets,"  etc.  Poor 
Boswell  gently  explained  that  he  meant  no  offence.  The 
doctor  said  afterwards  that  he  thouoht  of  2:oii]2:  back  to 
Edinburgh,  and  would  never  have  spoken  to  him  again  ! 
(At  the  inn  he  had  to  lie  on  hay,  but  Boswell  was  consoled 
by  reading,  in  the  doctor's  "  Tour,"  "  Mr.  Boswel],  being- 
more  delicate,   laid  himself  sheets  with  hay  over  and 

deimir  (Monboddo  insisting  that  he  could  not  possibly  precede  a 
senior  lord),  till  Karnes,  spying  the  tricks  which  had  been  played 
on  his  friend,  exclaimed,  '  Gang  in,  man,  and  sharw's  your  tail  !  ' 
pushing  him  forward.  Of  coui'se  the  laugh  was  irresistible,  but 
Monboddo  could  not  enjoy  it,  as,  througli  fear  of  giving  him  offence, 
he  was  not  informed  of  the  joke." 


THE   TOUR  IN  THE  HEBRIDES.  181 

under  liim,  and  lay  in  linen  like  a  gentleman.")  Johnson, 
however,  apologized,  in  his  way,  "  Let's  think  no  more 
on't."  It  is  clear  the  sage  was  already  disgusted  and 
out  of  humour  with  tlie  inconveniences  and  discomforts 
of  the  journey  they  had  just  begun.  Tlien  said  the 
amiable  Bozzy,  who  had  slept  ill  the  night  before,  think- 
ing of  his  treatment,  "  Well,  sir,  I  shall  be  easy.  Re- 
member, I  am  to  have  fair  warning  in  case  of  a  quarrel. 
You  are  never  to  spring  a  mine  on  me.  It  was  absurd 
in  me  to  believe  you."     This  was  amiable. 

They  were  now  to  leave  the  mainland,  and  row  over 
to  Skye.  They  were  met  on  landing  by  Sir  Alexander 
Macdonald.  This  potentate  was  married  to  a  Miss 
Bosville,  a  cousin  or  relation  of  Boswell's,  being  sister 
to  his  "Chief,"  as  he  styled  him,  the  Bosville  of  Thorpe 
in  Yorkshire.  This  connection  ouoht  to  have  secured 
discretion,  but,  as  will  be  shown  later,  our  hero  was  to 
exhibit  himself  in  a  very  foolish  manner. 

The  house  had  been  recently  burnt  down,  and  the 
owners  were  obliged  to  live  in  a  small  one  belonging  to 
one  of  their  factors.  Their  hosts  even  came  specially 
from  Edinburgh  to  meet  the  travellers,  who,  however, 
were  much  disgusted  at  their  entertainment,  which,  under 
the  circumstances,  was  of  a  meagre  kind. 

Next  they  passed  to  another  part  of  the  island,  to 
Rasay,  the  seat  of  the  McLeods,  and  which  Dr.  Johnson 
spells  as  he  heard  it  sounded,  "  liaarsaJ'  Here  they 
found  genuine  and  characteristic  Highland  hospitality, 
which  is  described  as  new  and  interesting.  After  a  short 
stay  they  passed  to  another  house,  where  they  met 
the  celebrated  Flora  Macdonald,  of  whom  Boswell  gives 
a,  picturesque  sketch.  They  came  on  to  Dunvegan, 
where  they  were  detained  many  days  by  the  bad  weather. 
Youno-     "  Col  " — a   pleasant,    off-handed,    good-natured 


182  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

being,  who  was  to  owe  a  celebrity  lie  w^oulcl  never  liave 
enjoyed,  to  Boswell's  natural  and  interesting  drawing 
of  his  character — brought  them  on  to  Corrichataclmt, 
"where  Boswell,  on  the  night  of  their  arrival,  exhibited 
himself  to  much  disadvantage. 

On  this  scene,  which  he  frankly  described  in  his  book, 
the  unlucky  author  was  much  baited  in  public  and 
private.  It  seems,  indeed,  to  be  the  very  reductio  ad 
absurdum  of  tlie  author's  own  absurdity.  No  one, 
before  or  since,  has  ever  thought  of  describing  himself 
in  a  state  of  intoxication,  in  all  its  stages. 

'"  Dr.  Johnson  went  to  bed  soon.  When  one  bowl  of 
punch  was  finished,  I  rose,  and  was  near  the  door,  in 
my  way  upstairs  to  bed  ;  but  Corrichatachin  said,  it  was 
the  first  time  Col  had  been  in  his  house,  and  he  should 
have  his  bowl ; — and  would  not  I  join  in  drinking  it  ? 
The  heartiness  of  my  honest  landlord,  and  the  desire 
of  doing  social  honour  to  our  very  obliging  conductor, 
induced  me  to  sit  down  again.  CoVs  bowl  was  finished, 
and  by  that  time  we  w^ere  well  warmed.  A  third  bowl  was 
soon  made,  and  that  too  was  finished.  We  were  cordial 
and  merry  to  a  high  degree  ;  hut  of  what  2)ctssed  I  hair 
no  recollection,  with  any  accuracy.  I  remember  calling 
Corrichatachin  by  the  familiar  appellation  of  Corri, 
which  his  friends  do.  A  fourth  bowl  was  made,  bv 
which  time  Col,  and  young  M'Kinnon,  Corrichatachin's 
son,  slipped  away  to  bed.  I  continued  a  little  with 
Corri  and  Knochoiv ;  but  at  last  I  left  them.  It  was 
near  Jive  in  the  morning  when  I  got  to  bed." 

This  w^as  bad  enough  as  a  description  of  himself. 
But  he  must  call  in  his  great  friend,  to  record  his  dis- 
gust and  contempt : — 

''Sunday,  September  26th. — I  awaked,"  he  tells  us, 
"  at  noon,  witli  a  severe  headache.     I  was  much  vexed 


THE   TOUR   IN  THE  TIEDIilDES.  183 

tliat  I  should  have  been  guilty  of  such  a  riot,  and  afraid 
of  a  reproof  from  Dr.  Johnson.  About  one  he  came  into 
my  room,  and  accosted  me,  '  Wliat,  drunk  yet  f* ' — Ilis 
tone  of  voice  was  not  that  of  severe  upbraiding ;  so  I 
was  relieved  a  little. — '  Sir,'  said  I,  *  they  kept  me  up.' 
He  answered,  'No,  you  kept  them  up,  you  drunken 
dog ' — this  he  said  with  good-humoured  English  plea- 
santry. Soon  afterwards,  Corrichatachin,  Col,  and  other 
friends  assembled  round  my  bed.  Corri  had  a  brandy 
bottle  and  glass  with  him,  and  insisted  I  should  take  a 
dram. — '  Ay,'  said  Dr.  Johnson,  'Jill  him  drunk  again. 
Do  it  in  the  morning,  that  ive  may  langh  at  him  all 
day.  It  is  a  poor  thing  for  a  fellow  to  get  drunk  at 
night,  and  sculk  to  bed,  and  let  his  friends  have  no 
sport.' — Finding  him  thus  jocular,  I  became  quite  easy ; 
and  wdien  I  offered  to  get  up,  he  very  good-naturedly  said, 
'  No,  you  need  be  in  no  such  hurry  now.'  I  took  my 
host's  advice,  and  drank  some  brandy,  wdiich  I  found  an 
effective  cure  for  my  headache."  His  praises  here,  of 
his  friend's  indulgence,  "  finding  him  thus  jocular  "  when 
he  was  showing  his  contempt,  is  a  singular  instance  of 
]jlindness.  AVith  what  feelings  Mrs.  Bos  well  must  have 
perused  this  account !  But  the  wind-up  is  the  most 
extraordinary  portion  :  "  When  I  rose,  taking  up  Mrs. 
Mackinnon's  Prayer  Book,  I  opened  it  at  the  twentieth 
Sunday  after  Epiphany,  in  the  Epistle  for  which  I 
read,  '  And  be  not  drunk  with  wdne,  wherein  there 
is  excess.'  Some  would  have  taken  this  as  a  Divine 
interposition,"  The  company  let  him  off  easily:  '"'I 
felt  myself  comfortable  enough  in  the  afternoon.  I 
then  thought  that  my  last  night's  riot  w^as  no  more 
than  such  a  social  excess  as  may  happen  without  much 
moral  blame ;  and  recollected  that  some  physicians 
maintained,  that  a  fever  produced  by  it  was,  upon  the 


184  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

whole,  good  for  health :  so  different  are  our  reflections 
on  the  same  subject,  at  different  periods ;  and  such  the 
excuses  with  which  we  palliate  what  we  know  to  be 
wrong.    ^ 

*  The  following  is  a  grapliic  and  picturesque  scene  :  "  "While 
we  were  chatting  in  the  indolent  stile  of  men  who  were  to  stay 
here  all  this  day  at  least,  we  were  suddenly  roused  at  being  told 
that  the  wind  was  fair,  that  a  little  fleet  of  herring-busses  was 
passing  by  for  Mull,  and  that  Mr.  Simpson's  vessel  was  about 
to  sail.  Hugh  M 'Donald,  the  skipper,  came  to  us,  and  was  im- 
patient that  we  should  get  ready,  which  we  soon  did.  .  .  .  He  rode, 
and  I  and  the  other  gentlemen  walked,  about  an  English  mile  to 
the  shore,  where  the  vessel  lay.  .  .  .  We  were  carried  to  the  vessel 
in  a  small  boat  which  she  had,  and  we  set  sail  very  briskly  about 
one  o'clock.  1  was  much  pleased  with  the  motion  for  many  hours. 
Dr.  Johnson  grew  sick,  and  retired  under  cover,  as  it  rained  a  good 
deal.  I  kept  above,  that  I  might  have  fresh  air,  and  finding  my- 
self not  affected  by  the  motion  of  the  vessel,  I  exulted  in  being  a 
stout  seaman,  while  Dr.  Johnson  was  quite  in  a  state  of  annihila- 
tion. But  I  was  soon  humbled ;  for,  after  imagining  that  I  could 
go  with  ease  to  America  or  the  East  Indies,  I  became  very  sick, 
but  kept  above  board,  though  it  rained  hard.  .  .  . 

"We  were  then  obliged  to  tack,  and  get  forward  in  that  tedious 
manner.  As  we  advanced  the  storm  grew  greater,  and  the  sea 
very  rough.  .  .  .  The  old  skipper  still  tried  to  make  for  the  land  of 
Mull,  but  then  it  was  considered  that  there  was  no  place  there 
where  we  could  anchor  in  safety.  Much  time  was  lost  in  striving 
against  the  storm.  At  last  it  Ijecame  so  rough  and  threatened  to 
be  so  much  worse,  that  Col  and  his  servant  took  moi'e  courage, 
and  said  they  would  undertake  to  hit  one  of  the  harbours  in  Col. — 
'  Then  let  us  run  for  it  in  God's  name,'  said  the  skipper ;  and  in- 
stantly we  turned  towards  it.  The  little  Avherry  Avhich  had  fallen 
behind  us  had  hard  work.  The  master  begged  that,  if  we  made 
for  Col,  we  should  put  out  a  light  to  him.  Accordingly  one  of  the 
sailors  waved  a  glowing  peat  for  some  time.  The  various  difficul- 
ties that  were  started  gave  me  a  good  deal  of  apprehension,  from 
which  I  Avas  relieved  when  I  found  we  were  to  run  for  a  harbour- 
before  the  wind.  But  ray  relief  Avas  but  of  short  duration ;  for 
I  soon  heard  that  our  sails  were  very  bad,  and  were  in  danger 
of  being  torn  to  pieces,  in  which  case  we  should  be  driven  upon 
the  rocky  shore  of  Col.  It  was  very  dark,  and  there  was  a  heavy 
and  incessant  rain.  The  sparks  of  the  burning  peat  flew  so  much 
about,  that  I  dreaded  the  vessel  might  take  fire.  Then,  as  CoL 
was  a  sportsman,  and  had  powder  on  board,  I  figured  that  we 
might  be  blown  up.  Simpson  and  he  appeared  a  little  frightened, 
which  made  me  more  so  ;    and  the  perpetual  talking,   or   rather 


THE   TOUIi  IN   THE   JIEBUIDES.  185 

This  scene  was  not  forgotten  in  the  caricatures. 
The  laughter  was  so  loud  that  he  was  obliged  to  say 
something  in  his  next  edition.  "  My  ingenuously  re- 
lating this  occasional  instance  of  intemperance,  has,  I 
tind,  been  made  the  subject  l)oth  of  serious  criticism 
and  ludicrous  banter.     With  tlic  l^anterers  I  shall  not 


shouting,  -wliich  was  carried  on  in  Erse,  alarmed  me  still  more.  .  .  . 
1  now  saw  Avliat  I  never  saw  before,  a  pi'Ddigious  sea,  with  im- 
mense billows  coming  upon  a  vessel,  so  as  that  it  seemed  hardly 
possible  to  escape.  There  was  something-  grandly  horrible  in  the 
sight.  I  am  glad  I  have  seen  it  once.  Amidst  all  these  terri- 
t'jing  circumstances,  I  endeavoured  to  compose  my  mind.  It  was 
not  easy  to  do  it;  for  all  the  stories  that  I  had  heard  of  the 
dangerous  sailing  among  the  Hebrides,  which  is  proverbial,  came 
full  upon  my  recollection.  .  .  . 

"  It  was  half  an  hour  after  eleven  before  we  set  ourselves  in 
the  course  for  Col.  As  I  saw  them  all  busy  doing  something!-, 
I  asked  Col,  with  much  earnestness,  what  I  could  do.  He, 
with  a  happy  readiness,  put  into  my  hand  a  rope,  which  was 
fixed  to  the  top  of  one  of  the  masts,  and  told  me  to  hold  it  till 
he  bade  me  pull.  If  I  had  considered  the  matter,  I  might  have 
seen  that  this  could  not  be  of  the  least  service  ;  but  his  object  was 
to  keep  me  out  of  the  way  of  those  who  wei-e  busy  working  the 
vessel,  and  at  the  same  time  to  divert  my  fear  by  employing 
me,  and  making  me  think  that  I  was  of  use.  Thus  did  I  stand 
firm  to  my  post,  while  the  wind  and  rain  beat  upon  me,  always 
expecting  a  call  to  pull  my  rope. 

"  The  man  with  one  eye  steered ;  old  jM'Donald,  and  Col,  and 
his  servant  lay  upon  the  forecastle,  looking  sharp  out  for  the 
harbour.  It  was  necessary  to  carry  much  cloth,  as  they  termed  it, 
that  is  to  say,  much  sail,  in  order  to  keep  the  vessel  off  the  shore 
of  Col.  This  made  violent  plunging  in  a  rough  sea.  At  last  they 
spied  the  harbour  off  Lochiern,  and  Col  cried,  '  Thank  God,  we 
are  safe  !  '  We  ran  up  till  Ave  were  opposite  to  it,  and  soon  after- 
wards we  got  into  it,  and  cast  anchor. 

"  Dr.  Johnson  had  all  this  time  been  quiet  and  unconcerned. 
He  had  lain  down  on  one  of  the  beds,  and  having  got  free  from 
sickness,  was  satisfied.  The  truth  is,  he  knew  nothing  of  the 
danger  we  were  in.  .  .  .  Once,  during  the  doubtful  consultations,  he 
asked  whither  we  were  going  ;  and,  upon  being  told  that  it  was 
not  certain  whether  to  Mull  or  Col,  he  cried,  '  Col  for  my  money  !  ' 
I  now  went  down,  with  Col  and  Mr.  Simpson,  to  visit  him.  He 
was  lying  in  philosophick  tranquillity,  with  a  greyhound  of  Col's  at 
his  back,  keeping  him  warm.'' 


18G  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

trouble  myself,  but  I  wouder  that  those  who  pretend 
to  the  appellation  of  serious  critics,  should  not  have 
sagacity  enough  to  perceive  that  here,  as  in  every 
other  part  of  my  work,  my  object  was  to  delineate  Dr. 
Johnson,  etc." 

By  October  5th  they  were  at  young  Col's  house, 
who  entertained  the  travellers  cordially.  By  the  17tli 
they  reached  Lochbuy,  where  Sir  Allan  M'Clean  wel- 
comed them  with  much  hospitality.  But  here  Boswell, 
in  a  very  droll  way,  was  to  exhibit  the  weak  side  of  his 
nature.  Johnson  was  late  in  coming  down  to  break- 
fast, and,  while  they  were  waiting,  the  laird's  sister 
"  proposed  that  he  should  have  some  cold  sheep's-head  for 
breakfast.  Sir  Allan  seemed  displeased  at  his  sister's 
vulgarity,  and  wondered  how  such  a  thought  should 
come  into  her  head.  From  a  mischievous  love  of 
sport,  I  took  the  ladys  jKtrt,  and  very  gravely  said,  '  I 
think  it  is  but  fair  to  give  him  an  offer  of  it.  If  he 
does  not  choose  it,  he  may  let  it  alone.' — '  I  think  so,' 
said  the  lady,  looking  at  her  brother  with  an  air  of 
victory.  Sir  Allan,  finding  the  matter  desperate, 
strutted  about  the  room,  and  took  snuff.  When  Dr. 
Johnson  came  in,  she  called  to  him,  "Do  you  choose 
any  cold  sheep's-head,  sir  1 ' — '  No,  Madam,'  said  he, 
with  a  tone  of  surprise  and  anger. — '  It  is  here,  sir,'  said 
she,  supposing  he  had  refused  it  to  save  the  trouble 
of  bringing  it  in.  They  thus  went  on  at  cross  purposes, 
till  he  confirmed  his  refusal  in  a  manner  not  to  be  mis- 
understood ;  tvJiile  I  sat  quietly  by,  and  enjoyed  my 
success."  Thus  ingeniously  he  had  caused  a  dispute 
between  brother  and  sister,  and  between  Johnson  and 
the  lady,  and,  for  his  own  further  satisfaction,  he  publicly 
exhibited  his  good-natured  hostess's  "vulgarity."  "So 
thick  a  hide  is  not  in  nature,  sir,"  his  friend  might  have 


THE   TOUR   IN  THE  HEBRIDES.  1ST 

said  ;  "  it  must  have  taken  liim  a   world  of  pains  to 
become  what  he  is." 

Then  followed  the  visit  to  lona,  which  inspired 
Johnson  with  a  well-known,  but  rather  over-praised 
passage.  After  which  they  turned  their  steps  home,  and 
were  glad,  in  Johnson's  phrase,  to  find  themselves  once 
more  "  in  a  country  of  saddles  and  bridles."  A  most 
gratifying  incident  for  the  guide,  Avas  the  visit  to  Inverary 
Castle.  Here  it  was  that  poor  Boswell,  exhilarated  by 
the  success  of  the  expedition,  behaved  with  more  than  his 
usual  extravagance.  The  scene  is  well  known  and  ad- 
mirably drawn.  Johnson  seems  to  have  had  always  to 
keep  in  check  the  "  pushing  "  disposition  of  his  friend, 
which  led  him  often  to  intrude :  the  sage  himself  had  a 
gentlemanly  delicacy  in  such  matters.  Boswell  was  for 
going  up  to  the  castle  early,  so  as  to  extract  an  invita- 
tion to  dinner.  Johnson,  always  well-bred — "  insisted 
that  I  should  not  go  before  dinner,  as  it  would  look  like 
seekino-  an  invitation.  '  But,'  said  1,  '  if  the  Duke 
invites  us  to  dine  with  him  to-morrow,  shall  we  accept  ? 
'  Yes,  Sir,'  I  think  he  said,  '  to  be  sure.'  But  he 
added,  'He  won't  ask  us.'  We  dined  well.  I  went  to 
the  castle  just  about  the  time  when  I  supposed  the  ladies 
would  be  retiring  from  dinner.  I  sent  in  my  name  ;  and, 
being  shown  in,  found  the  amiable  duke  sitting  at  the 
head  of  his  table  with  several  gentlemen.  I  was  most 
politely  received.  .  .  .  When  we  rose  from  table,  the  duke 
said  to  me,  '  I  hope  you  and  Dr.  Johnson  will  dine  with 
us  to-morrow.'  1  thanked  his  grace  ;  but  told  him  my 
friend  was  in  a  great  hurry  to  get  back  to  London.  The 
duke,  ivith  a  hind  complacency,  said,  'He  will  stay  one 
day  ;  and  I  will  take  care  he  shall  see  this  place  to 
advantao-e.'  I  said,  '  I  should  be  sure  to  let  him  know 
his  grace's  invitation.     As  I  was  going  away,  the  duke 


188  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

said,  '  Mr.  Boswell,  Avon't  you  have  some  tea  ? '  I 
thought  it  best  to  get  over  the  meeting  with  the  duchess 
this  night ;  so  respectfully  agreed.  I  was  conducted  to 
the  drawing-room  by  the  duke,  who  announced  my 
name ;  but  the  duchess,  who  was  sittino-  with  her 
daughter,  Lady  Betty  Hamilton,  and  some  other  ladies, 
took  not  the  least  notice  of  me.  ■  I  should  have  been 
mortified  at  being  thus  coldly  received  by  a  lady  of  whom 
I,  with  the  rest  of  the  world,  have  always  entertained  a 
very  high  admiration,  had  I  not  been  consoled  by  the 
obliging  attention  of  the  duke.  .  .  . 

"My  acquaintance,  the  Eev.  Mr.  JohnM'Aulay,  came 
to  us  this  morning,  and  accompanied  us  to  the  castle, 
where  I  presented  Dr.  Johnson  to  the  Duke  of  Argyle. 
We  were  shown  through  the  house ;  and  I  never  shall 
forget  the  impressioyi  made  upon  my  fancy  hy  some  of 
the  ladies'  maids  ti'ipping  about  in  neat  morning 
dresses.  After  seeing  for  a  long  time  little  but  rusticity, 
their  lively  manner,  and  gay  inviting  appearance,  pleased 
me  so  much,  that  I  thought  for  a  moment  I  could  have 
been  a  knight-errant  for  them.   .  .   . 

"  When  we  came  in,  before  dinner,  we  found  the  duke 
and  some  gentlemen  in  the  hall.  The  duke  placed  Dr. 
Johnson  next  himself  at  table.  I  was  in  fine  spirits  ; 
and  though  sensible  that  I  had  the  misfortune  of  not 
being  in  favour  with  the  duchess,  I  was  not  in  the  least 
disconcerted,  and  offered  her  grace  some  of  the  dish  that 
was  before  me.  It  must  be  owned  that  I  was  in  the 
right  to  be  quite  unconcerned,  if  I  could.  I  was  the 
Duke  of  Argyle's  guest ;  and  I  had  no  reason  to  suppose 
that  he  had  adopted  the  prejudices  and  resentments  of 
the  Duchess  of  Hamilton. 

"  I  knew  it  was  the  rule  of  modern  high  life  not  to 
drink  to  any  body  ;    but,  that  I  might  have  the  satis- 


THE   TOUR   IN   THE  HEBRIDES.  18!) 

faction  for  once  to  look  tlic  dutdiess  in  the  face,  witli  a 
glass  in  my  hand,  I,  with  a  respectful  air  addressed  her, 
'  My  Lady  Duchess,  I  have  the  honour  to  drink  your 
grace's  good  health.'  I  repeated  the  words  audibly,  and 
with  a  steady  countenance.  This  was,  perhaps,  rather 
too  much  ; '  but  some  allowance  must  be  made  for  human 
feelings.  ...  I  made  some  remark  that  seemed  to  imply 
a  belief  in  second  sight.  The  duchess  said,  '  I  fancy  you 
will  be  a  metJiodist.'  This  was  the  only  sentence  her 
grace  deigned  to  utter  to  me  ;  and  I  take  it  for  granted, 
she  thought  it  a  good  hit  on  my  credidify  in  the 
Dousjlas  cause.   .   .  . 

"  We  went  to  tea.  The  duke  and  I  walked  up  and 
down  the  drawing-room,  conversing.  The  duchess  still 
continuino;  to  show  the  same  marked  coldness  for  me  : 
for  which,  though  I  suffered  from  it,  I  made  every  allow- 
ance, considering  the  very  warm  part  that  I  had  taken 
for  Douglas,  in  the  cause  in  which  she  thought  her  son 
deeply  interested.  Had  not  her  grace  discovered,  some 
displeasure  towards  me,  I  should  have  suspected  her  of 
insensibility  or  dissimulation. 

"  Her  grace  made  Dr.  Johnson  come  and  sit  by  her, 
and  asked  him  why  he  made  his  journey  so  late  in  the 
year.  '  Why,  Madam,'  said  he,  '  you  know  Mr.  Boswell 
must  attend  the  court  of  sessions,  and  it  does  not  rise 
till  the  twelfth  of  xA,ugust.'  She  said,  with  some  sharp- 
ness, '  I  hiiow  nothing  of  Mr.  BoswelL'  Poor  Lady 
Lucy  Douglas,  to  whom  I  mentioned  this,  observed, 
'  She  knew  too  much  of  Mr.  BoswelL'  I  shall  make  no 
remark  on  her  grace's  speech.  I  indeed  felt  it  as  rather 
too  severe  ;  but  when  I  recollected  that  my  punishment 
Avas  inflicted  by  so  dignified  a  beauty,  1  had  that  kind  of 
consolation  which  a  man  would  feel  who  is  strangled  by 
a  silken  cord. 


190  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

"He  was  niucli  pleased  with  our  visit  cat  the  castle  of 
Inverary.  The  Duke  of  Argyle  was  exceedingly  polite 
to  him,  and,  upon  his  complaining  of  the  shelties  which 
he  had  hitherto  ridden  being  too  small  for  him,  his  grace 
told  him  he  should  be  provided  with  a  good  horse  to 
carry  him  next  day." 

No  comment  could  do  justice  to  this  extraordinary 
picture. 

Before  coming  to  his  father's  castle,  Boswell  took  his 
friend  to  his  brother-in-law's,  Mr.  Campbell  of  Treesbank, 
who  was  married  to  one  of  Mrs.  Boswell's  sisters,  and 
whom  he  dismisses  in  rather  a  patronizing  way  :  "  We 
were  entertained  very  agreeably  by  a  ivorthy  couj)Ie." 
The  children  of  this  "worthy  couple"  were,  however, 
the  source  of  some  of  Boswell's  embarrassments,  as  he 
was  induced,  no  doiiljt  by  his  wife,  to  borrow  a  sum  of 
seven  or  eight  hundred  pounds  for  their  use,  and  seems 
to  have  taken  charge  of  their  advancement  in  the  world. 
Dr.  Johnson,  however,  though  entertained  by  this  family, 
calls  the  lady  "Mr.  Boswell's  sister."  They  reached 
Glasgow,  putting  up  at  the  "  Saracen's  Head,"  and 
enjoyed  a  coal  fire.     Then  came  the  visit  to  Auchinleck. 

It  is  admirably  and  naturally  described,  and  the  tone 
and  the  tranquil  air  of  the  place  caught  to  perfection. 
"I  was  very  anxious,"  he  says,  "that  all  should  be 
well.  I  begged  of  my  friend  to  avoid  three  topics,  on 
which  they  differed  very  widely,  Whiggism,  Presbyte- 
rianism,  and — Sir  John  Pringle.  .  .  .  Our  first  day  Avent 
off  very  smoothly," — when  the  library  was  shown  to  the 
doctor,  and  there  followed  discussions  on  the  editions, 
etc.  The  next  day  Boswell  took  his  friend  over  the 
place,  showed  the  old  castle,  adding,  as  an  acceptable 
topic,  that  he  intended  to  erect  a  monument  to  him 
there  "among  the  graves," — which,  however,  he  forgot 


THE   TOUR   IN   THE  lIEUniDES.  101 

to  do.      Johnson    turnc'd    off   the    subject,  Avliich    was 
always  distasteful  to  liim.     But  in  a  day  or  two,  what 
Bos  well  dreaded  came  about.     "  If  I  recollect  right,  the 
contest  began  while  my   fiither  was  showing  him  his 
collection  of  medals  " — it  will  be    noted  what  elegant 
tastes  the  old  judge  had — "  and  Oliver  Cromwell's  coin 
unfortunately  introduced  Charles  I.  and  Toryism.     They 
became  exceedingly  warm  and  violent,  and  I  was  very 
much  distressed  by  being  present  at  such  an  altercation 
])etween  two  men,  both  of  whom   I  reverenced ;  yet  I 
dared  not  interfere.     It  would  certainly  be  very  un- 
becoming in  me  to   exhibit  my  honoured  father,   and 
my  respected  friend,  as  intellectual  gladiators,  for  the 
entertainment  of  the  public ;  and  therefore  I  suppress 
what  would   make   an  interestiuo-    scene   in   this    dra- 
matic  sketch."     He  was,  no  doubt,  dying  to  give  it,  as 
it   would   have    been  dramatic   in   the  highest  degree. 
Johnson    challenged   him    to    point    out   any   work    of 
merit  by  a  Presbyterian    minister,  and  the  judge  was 
somewhat  puzzled,  but  recollected  a  name  he  had  seen  in 
a  catalogue,  "  upon  which  he  boldly  said, '  Pray,  sir,  have 
you  read  Mr.  Durham's  excellent  Commentary  on  the 
Galatians  1 '    '  No,  sir,'  said  Dr.  Johnson.     By  this  lucky 
thought  my  father  kept  him  at  bay,  and  for  some  time 
enjoyed  his  triumph ;  but  his  antagonist  soon  made  a 
retort,   which  I  forbear  to  mention."      This  is  lightly 
and  admirably    touched,    with    the   proper   reserve    of 
comedy.      "  In  the  course  of  this  altercation,  Whiggism 
and   Presbyterianism,    Toryism    and    Episcopacy,    iverc 
ferrihhj  buffeted.     My  worthy,   hereditary   friend.   Sir 
John    Pringie,   never   having  been  mentioned,  happily 
escaped  luithout  a  bruise."      These  capital  scenes  appear 
really  to  have  something  akin  to  what  we  find  in  the 
earlier  "  Waverley  Novels,"  and  there  is  something  of 


192  LIFE   OF  JAMES   BOS  WELL. 

the  same  natural  vio-oroiis  drawinoj  in  the  cliaracters  of 
the  judge  and  the  doctor.  On  the  Sunday  Johnson 
declined  to  attend  a  parish  church,  along  the  "  Via 
Sacra" — an  avenue,  three  miles  long,  lined  with  trees, 
which  led  to  it.  And  on  the  Monday  they  cjuitted 
Auchinleck,  after  a  stay  of  close  on  a  week.  "  Notwith- 
standing the  altercations,"  says  Boswell,  "  my  father, 
who  had  the  dignified  courtesy  of  an  old  baron, 
w^as  very  civil  to  Dr.  Johnson,  and  politely  attended 
him  to  the  post-chaise  which  was  to  convey  ns  to 
Edinburgh.  Thus  they  parted.  They  are  now  in 
another,  and  a  higher  state  of  existence  ;  and,  as  they 
were  both  worthy,  Christian  men,  I  trust  they  have 
met  in  happiness."  This  is  a  pleasing  graceful  envoi ; 
and  it  must  be  said  that  Boswell  acquitted  himself  in  a 
trying  position  judiciously.* 

On  November  9th,  they  returned  to  Edinburgh,  after 
a  spirited  tour  of  ninety-four  days.  At  Edinburgh  the 
most  lavish  hospitalities  were  heaped  on  the  travellers, 
after  which  Johnson  took  his  leave,  and  returned  to 
London.  He  said  afterwards  that  he  had  never  relished 
any  of  his  excursions  so  much  as  this  ;  and  that  nothing 
had  furnished  him  with  so  many  new  ideas,  or  so 
enlarged  his  views. 

It  is  curious  that  of  this  remarkable  pilgrimage 
there  are  no  less  than  three  distinct  records,  each  made 
from  a  different  point  of  view.  The  first  in  importance 
is,  of  course,  Boswell's  inimitable  account,  which  unfolds 
the  effect  of  all  that  was  seen  and  encountered,  on  two 
observimr  and  vivacious  minds.      Next   we   have   Dr. 


*  The  judge  and  the  doctor  must  have  met  again  in  Edinburgh. 
For  we  are  told  that  the  former  saw  Johnson  come  into  his  court, 
and  whispered  to  one  of  his  brethren  this  "sly,  abrupt  expression 
—'Ursa  Majok!'" 


THE   TOUR    IN   THE  HEBRIDES.  193 

-lolinsou's  pleasant  iiud  viva(^ious  accounts,  written  to 
Mrs.  Thrale,  and  which  have  hardly  received  the  atten- 
tion they  deserve.  Indeed,  a  whole  collection  of  these 
letters  might  form  an  agreeable  supplement  to  his  life, 
as  they  are  most  entertaining,  and,  in  this  way,  supply 
a  oood  idea  of  the  less  formal  side  of  Johnson  s 
character.  They  furnish  also  many  little  characteristic 
touches  of  Boswcll,  such  as  that  "  he  blustered,"  or 
"  danced  a  reel." 

Johnson's  own  official  account,  though  admired,  is 
.somewhat  ponderous,  and  portions  of  it — the  observa- 
tions on  the  state  of  agriculture,  etc. — read  like  a  par- 
liamentary report.  It  was  felt,  however,  that  in  this 
account,  as  well  as  in  Boswell's,  there  was  a  good 
deal  of  ungraciousness,  as  many  hospitalities  were 
requited  with  fault-finding,  and  even  ridicule.  Indeed, 
the  doctor's  book  excited  a  storm  of  angry  protest, 
which  explains  why  none  of  the  Scotch  universities 
thought  of  offering  him  a  degree.* 

*  Boswell  had  gi^eat  hopes  that  he  would  be  allowed  to  have 
some  share  iu  the  popularity  that  attended  his  great  friend's 
Avork,  and  prepared  a  long  list  of  supplemental  remarks  and  com- 
ments. But  he  had  to  confess  ruefully  that  "Dr.  Johnson  does 
not  seem  very  desirous  that  I  should  publish  any  supplement. 
Between  ourselves,  he  is  not  apt  to  encourage  one  to  share 
reputation  with  himself."  So  eager  Avas  he,  however,  that  he  made 
the  odd  suggestion  that  he  should  send  them  to  his  friend  Temple 
to  be  revised,  "and  then  they  may  be  published  freely."  As  the 
remarks  may  have  been  corrections  of  mistakes  into  which 
Johnson  had  fallen,  they  would  thus  have  the  air  of  being  the  work 
of  an  independent  critic.  Such  were  the  little  devices  to  Avhich 
his  itch  for  authorship)  led  him. 


VOL.  T.  O 


194  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

BIRTH    OF   A    SOX — VISITS    TO    LICHFIELD,    OXFORD,    ETC. 

1775. 

It  is  curious  to  find  that,  after  the  tour,  Boswell  should 
have  remained  nearly  two  years  without  visiting  London. 
This  may  have  been  owiug  to  pecuniary  pressure,  and 
was  due  also  to  his  wife's  objections.  In  1774  he  had 
consulted  his  friend  whether  he  should  make  his  annual 
expedition,  mentioning  as  a  reason  "  the  peculiar  satis- 
faction" he  experienced  in  celebrating  the  festival  of 
Easter  at  St.  Paul's.  It  seemed  to  him  "  like  going  up  to 
Jerusalem  for  the  Passover,  and  the  strong  devotion  he 
felt  on  such  occasions  influenced  him  for  the  rest  of  the 
year."  In  answer  to  this  very  transparent  excuse,  Johnson 
wrote  him  a  sensible  letter  of  advice,  bidding  him  compl}^ 
with  Mrs.  Boswell's  entreaties,  and  make  "  reciprocal 
concessions,"  as  she  had  allowed  him  his  ramble  last 
year.    The  St.  Paul's  idea  he  treated  as  quite  fantastic. 

The  mischief  Boswell  must  have  done  by  his  "  chat- 
ter," and  repeating  what  he  had  learned  in  private 
irresponsible  conversation,  is  well  illustrated  by  a  little 
incident  w^hicli  occurred  in  Edinburgh,  about  two  years 
after  "  the  tour."  His  friend  Temple  had  written  him 
a  letter,  in  wdiich  was  "  an  admirable  passage,"  as  it 
appeared  to  Boswell.  How  could  his  great  friend — "  he 
would  not  say  your  pious,  but  your  moral  friend,"  give 


BIRTH  OF  A   SON — VISITS   TO  LICHFIELD,  ETC.      195 

a  support  to  tlic  ministry  wliicb  tlicy  liad  not  the  face 
to  ask  "their  infidel  pensioner"  Hume  for?  This  he 
showed,  in  London,  to  Johnson  himself,  though  he  did 
not  mention  the  writer's  name.  At  a  party  at  Lord 
Kames',  where  was  Hume,  a  general  attack  was  made 
on  Johnson,  and  Hume  offered  Boswell  to  give  half- 
a-crown  for  every  page  of  the  dictionary  in  which  he 
would  not  discover  a  blunder.  "  He  talked  so  inso- 
lently," adds  Mr.  Boswell,  "  that  I  determined  to  be  at 
him,"  and  accordingly,  and  with  execrable  taste,  repeated 
the  uncomplimentary  passage.  No  wonder  Hume  ex- 
claimed, "  Would  a  gentleman  write  so  ?  " — a  remark 
which  Mr.  Boswell  reported  to  the  writer  of  the  letter. 
No  wonder  that  Johnson  told  him  roughly,  on  another 
occasion,  that  "  manners  were  his  want ; "  for  by  this  act 
he  had  contrived  to  set  several  persons  "  by  the  ears." 
The  droll  part  was  that  he  claimed  credit  and  praise 
from  the  friend  whose  private  thoughts  he  had  thus 
unwarrantably  divulged.  This,  however,  was  a  favourite 
method  of  his, — as  when  he  repeated  to  Foote,  before 
a  mixed  company,  an  uncourteous  speech  of  Johnson's. 
"Let  us  hear  it,"  said  the  actor;  "if  no  one  can  say 
a  better  thing  than  my  old  friend  Sam,"  etc.  :  on  which 
Boswell  maliciously  repeated  that  his  ideas  of  religion 
were  pretty  much  those  of  a  dog — that  is,  he  had  never 
thought  about  it  at  all.     This  was  certainly  gross. 

His  father  angrily  opposed  the  jaunt  to  town — "look- 
ing on  my  going  to  London  just  now  as  an  expedition, 
as  idle  and  extravagant,  when  in  reality  it  is  highly  im- 
proving to  me,  considering  the  company  which  I  enjoy  ; 
and  I  think  it  is  also  for  my  interest,  as  in  time  I  may 
get  something.  Lord  Pembroke  w^as  very  obliging  to 
me  when  he  was  in  Scotland,  and  has  corresponded  with 
me  since.     /  have  hopes  from  him.     How  happy,"  he 


196  LIFE    OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

adds,  with  odd,  naive  candour,  "  sliould  I  be  to  get  an 
independency  by  my  own  influence  iDhile  my  father  is 
alive.''  These  hopes  from  Lord  Pembroke  the  sanguine 
Boswell  seems  to  have  founded  on  little  more  than 
ordinary  civilities,  and  an  invitation  to  Wilton, 

He  was,  however,  determined  to  go,  and  set  off  in 
March,    1775,    full  of  elation,  like   a  school-boy  on  a 
holiday.     At  Grantham,  where  he  stopped,  he  had  an 
adventure.     "  I  have  an  acquaintance  in  Grantham,  the 
Eev.  Mr.  Palmer,  who  was  chaplain  to  the  late  Speaker  : 
he  is  a  worthy,  learned,  social  man.     I  sent  him  a  card 
that  I  would  breakfast  with  him  tomorrow,  if  not  incon- 
venient for  him  :    his  answer  is  just  come,  which  you 
shall  hear: — 'As  breakfastins;  will  be  attended  with  some 
inconveniences  in  the  present  state  of  his  family,  he  will 
be  very  glad  of  the  favour  of  his  company  to  a  family 
dinner   tomorrow  at   two    o'clock.'     What  can   be   the 
meaning   of  this  ?      Hoiv   can  ho^eal-fasting  he  incon- 
venient to  a  family  that  dines  ?  ...   It  is  now  early  in 
the  morning.     I  am  writing  in  a  great  Eugiish  parlour, 
to  have  my  letter  ready  for  the  post  at  nine.     /  have 
thought  of  making  a  good  acquaintance  in  each  toivn 
on   the   road.      No  man  has  been  more  successful  in 
making  acquaintance  easily  than  I  have  been  :  I  even 
bring  people  cjuickly  on  to  a  degree  of  cordiality."   What 
gaiete  de  cocur  is  here  !     How  enchanted  is  he  at  his 
emancipation,    enjoying    everything    that     turns     uj) ! 
He   goes   on  :   "I  am  in  charming  health  and  spirits. 
There  is  a  handsome  maid  at  this  inn,  who  interrupts 
me  by  coming  sometimes   into  the  room.     I  have  no 
confession  to  make,  my  priest ;  so  be  not  curious."     Yet 
here,  no  doubt,  follow^ed  a  confession  of  some  sort,  over 
which  his  editor  is  compelled  to  draw  a  veil.     "  It  is  as 
fair  reasoning  for  me  to  say  that  this  handsome  maid 


BIRTH   OF  A    SON— VISITS   TO   LICHFIELD,  ETC.      197 

{Matty  is  licr  name)  argues  better  than — whom  yoii 
please.     But  remember,  I  am  only  speculating." 

It  is  to  be  feared,  from  his  next  communication,  that 
the  volatile  writer  had  fors^otten  his  good  resolutions, 
and  had  completely  "broken  loose." 

"London,  April  4,  1775. 

"  My  last  was  indeed  a  characteristical  letter  :  /  was 
quite  in  my  old  humour.  IMy  mind,  formerly  a  wild, 
has  been  for  some  years  pretty  w^ell  enclosed  with  moral 
fences  ;  but  I  fear  the  fences  are  stone  hedges  (to  use  a 
strange  expression  of  Mr,  Johnson  in  his  Journey)  of  a 
loose  construction,  for  a  storm  of  passion  would  blow 
them  down ;  when  at  Grantham,  there  Avas  a  pretty 
brisk  gale,  which  shook  them.  ... 

"  I  told  you  that  my  arguments  for  concubinage 
were  only  for  theory ;  the  patriarchs  might  have  a 
plurality,  because  they  w^ere  not  taught  that  it  was 
wrong  ;  but  I,  who  have  always  been  taught  that  it  is 
wrong,  cannot  have  the  same  enjoyment  without  an 
impression  of  its  being  so,  and  consequently  without 
my  moral  sense  suffering.  But  is  not  this  prejudice  ? 
Be  it  so."     These  are  strang-e  ramblinos. 

On  his  arrival,  he  w^as  unexpectedly  called  on  to 
appear  in  an  election  petition  on  behalf  of  Captain 
Erskine,  but  he  had  not  brought  his  wig  or  gown, 
and  had  to  borrow  these  articles.  He  was  now  in 
noisy,  tumultuous  spirits.  "  I  am  indeed,"  he  wrote 
to  Temple,  "as  happy  as  you  could  wish.  Today  I 
dine  at  Sir  John  Pringle's  ;  tomorrow  at  Dilly's,  with 
Mr.  Johnson  and  Langton,  etc.  ;  Thursday,  at  Tom 
Davies's,  witli  Mr.  Johnson  and  some  others ;  Friday, 
iit  the   Turk's   Head,  Gerrard    Street,   with  our   Club, 


198  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  etc.,  who  now  dine  once  a  month, 
and  sup  every  Friday.  .  .  .  This  House  of  Commons  work 
will  be  ffood  ballast  for  me.  I  am  little  in  w^hat  is  called 
the  gaiety  of  London  ;  I  went  to  Mrs.  Abington's  benefit 
to  please  Sir  Joshua  Keynolds.  I  have  been  at  no  other 
public  place  except  exhibitions  of  pictures  with  Lord 
Mountstuart ;  he  is  warmly  my  friend,  and  has  engaged 
to  do  for  mc!'  This  w^as  but  another  ignis  fatuus. 
There  was  a  number  of  influential  persons  who  had  thus 
"  ensrao-ed  to  do  for  him : "  but  the  truth  was,  it  was 
impossible  to  treat  him  au  scrieux.  It  is  all  amusing 
enough,  because  so  naively  candid. 

On  May  12,  1775,  he  took  a  fresh  step  towards 
carrying  out  his  darling  scheme  of  going  to  the  English 
Bar.  "  He  has  entered  himself  at  the  (Inner)  Temple,'^ 
wrote  his  friend  to  Mrs.  Tlirale,  "  and  I  joined  in  his 
Bond.  He  was  to  plead  before  the  Lords,  and  hopes 
very  nearly  to  gain  the  cost  of  his  journey."  Johnson, 
however,  does  not  seem  to  have  favoured  this  rather 
rash  step,  and  mildly  discouraged  him.  But  the 
enthusiastic  Boswell  warmly  set  forth  his  roseate 
schemes,  and  saw  nothing  but  success. 

Before  leaving  town,  Boswell  was  invited  down  to 
Wilton,  on  a  visit  to  the  Earl  of  Pembroke.  He  was 
accompanied  by  Paoli,  to  whom  no  doubt  he  owed  his 
invitation.  Later,  he  went,  with  his  old  friend  Temple, 
to  Mamhead,  in  Devonshire.  The  visitor  introduced  a 
panegyric  of  this  nobleman,  when  he  quotes  Lord 
Pembroke's  saying,  of  Johnson's  "Bow-bow  way,"  which 
added  a  force  to  his  conversation,  and  which  Walpole 
thought  the  best  thing  in  the  "  Tour."  *     His   ardour 

*  Boswell  must  tave  exposed  himself  to  many  rebuffs  from  his 
want  of  tact  and,  sometimes,  manners.  As  when,  in  1775,  he  brought 
to  a  large  dinner-party,  at  Mr.  Dilly's,  au  utter  stranger.    Later,  he 


BIRTU    OF  A    SON — VISITS    TO   LICHFIELD,  ETC.       190 

ill  reporting  liis  mentor's  utterance:;  seemed  now  to  flag. 
He  had  to  confess  that  he  was  now  neglecting  his  great 
friend  a  good  deal,  "  did  not  see  him  for  a  considerable 
time,  and  kept  very  imperfect  notes  of  his  conversation," 
which,  he  admits,  had  he  been  so  industrious  as  to  have 
written  out  at  large,  would  have  been  a  great  gain. 

Feeling  a  sort  of  inflation  or  enthusiasm,  when  he 
found  himself  a  guest  in  this  grand  mansion,  he  addressed 
the  doctor  in  what  some  misjht  call  a  maudlin  state  of 
mind.     The  opening  is  unexpected. 

To  Dr.  Samuel  JoJinson. 

"  Wilton -house,  April  22,  1 775. 
"My  dear  Sir, — Every  scene  of  my  life  confirms 
the  truth  of  what  you  have  told  me,  '  there  is  no  certain 
happiness  in  this  state  of  being.' — I  am  here,  amidst  all 
that  you  know  is  at  Lord  Pembroke's  ;  and  yet  I  am 
Aveary  and  gloomy.     I  am  just  setting  out  for  the  house 
of  an  old  friend  in  Devonshire,  and  shall  not  get  back 
to  London  for  a  week  yet.     You  said  to  me  last  Good- 
Friday,  with  a  cordiality  that  warmed  my  heart,  that  if 
I  came  to  settle  in  London  we  should  have  a  day  fixed 
every  week,  to  meet  by  ourselves  and  talk  freely.     To 
l)e  thought  worthy  of  such  a  privilege  cannot  but  exalt 
me.     During  my  present  absence  from  you,  while,  not- 
withstanding the  gaiety  which  you  allow  me  to  possess, 
I  am  darkened  by  temporary  clouds,  I   beg  to   have  a 
few  lines  from  you ;  a  few  lines  merely  of  kindness,  as 
a  viaticum  till  I  see  you  again.     In  your  '  Vanity  of 
Human  Wishes,'  and  in  Parnell's  '  Contentment,'  I  find 

asked  his  friend  whether,  when  he  knows  that  some  of  his  friends 
are  invited  to  the  house  of  another  friend  "  where  they  are  all 
equally  intimate,  he  may  go  also  without  invitation."  Johnson  had 
to  explain  to  him  that  a  gentleman  is  not  to  go  where  he  is  not 
invited. 


200  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL.    ' 

the  only  sure  means  of  enjoying  happiness,  or,  at  least, 
the  hopes  of  happiness.  I  ever  am,  with  reverence  and 
affection,  most  faithfully  yours,  James  Boswell." 

After  the  Wilton  expedition  he  repaired  to  Mr. 
Temple's  home  at  Mamhead,  where  he  shocked  his  friend 
by  getting  very  drunk.  Under  an  old  yew-tree,  Mr. 
Boswell  made  a  solemn  vow  that  he  would  henceforth 
reform  and  live  soberly — a  vow  to  be  speedily  broken. 

AYhen  he  returned  to  town  we  find  him  staying 
with  his  friend  General  Paoli,  who  thus  repaid  the 
honours  and  hospitality  which  Boswell  had  lavished  on 
him  when  he  visited  Scotland.  Boswell's  elation  at  this 
comjDliment  is  amusing.  "  '  I  need  not  tell  you,'  said 
the  General,  '  that  everything  in  my  power  is  at  your 
disposal.'  For  the  last  fortnight  that  I  was  in  London 
I  lay  at  his  house,  and  had  the  command  of  his  coach. 
My  lodgings  in  Gerrard  Street  were  taken  by  a  gentle- 
man for  a  longer  time  than  I  could  stay  ;  so  it  was 
obliging  my  landlord  to  quit  them,  and  all  cards  and 
messages  of  every  kind  were  taken  in  there  for  me.  1 
felt  more  dignity  when  I  had  several  servants  at  my 
devotion,  a  large  apartment,  and  the  convenience  and 
state  of  a  coach  ;  I  recollected  that  this  dignity  in 
London  was  honourably  accjuired  by  my  travels  abroad, 
and  my  pen  after  I  came  home,  so  I  could  enjoy  it  with 
my  own  approbation."  * 

*  In  the  year  1888,  an  interesting  incident  took  place  in 
London,  the  translation  of  Paoli's  remains  to  his  native  land. 

"  M.  Francescbini  Pietri,  who  has  interested  himself  so  much  in 
the  removal,  is  nephew  of  that  illustrious  patriot.  M.  Pietri  has 
.C'iven  the  house  in  which  Paoli  was  born  to  the  Department  of 
Corsica,  and  the  General's  ashes  will  be  finally  laid  to  rest  in  the 
little  oratory  attached  to  the  mansion.  In  order  to  set  at  rest  any 
discussion  caused  by  the  late  Dean  Stanley's  error  in  stating  that 
Paoli's    body    bad   already    been    taken    to   Corsica,   the   English 


BlRllI   OF  A    SON — VISITS    TO   LICHFIELD,  ETC.      201 

lic'Wtas,  however,  in  such  favour  with  Johnson,  that 
a  room  was  set  apart  for  him  in  his  house,  which  he  was 
allowed  to  occupy  for  some  time.  By  the  end  of  May 
•he  had  returned  to  Scotland,  where  he  began  to  find 
his  mind  "somewhat  dark"  with  "black  fumes,"  as 
.lohnson  so  happily  called  them. 

On  October  9th,  however,  he  announced  the  birth  of 
a  "'  young  laird,"  named  Alexander,  after  the  judge. 
The  truth  was,  instead  of  being  an  occasion  of  harmony, 
the  event  was  later  to  lead  to  a  serious  dispute  with  his 
father,  occasioned  by  the  resettlement  of  the  estate. 
In  great  delight,  he  wrote  the  news  to  his  friend 
Temple.  ''You  know,  my  dearest  friend,  of  what  im- 
portance this  is  to  me  ;  of  what  importance  it  is  to  the 
family  of  Auchinleck,  which  you  may  be  well  convinced 
is  my  supreme  object  in  this  world.  My  wife  w^as  very 
ill  in  her  labour,  but  is  in  a  good  way,  and  the  child 
ap]3ears  to  be  as  well  as  we  could  wish. ' 

This  mixture  of  elation  and  depression  was,  of  course, 
owing  to  his  weakness  for  drink,  as  he  frankly  confesses 

Government  permitted  M.  Pietri  to  open  tlie  tomb.  This  was 
done  on  the  8th  inst.  The  tomb  was  situated  at  the  end  of  an 
avenue  in  Old  St.  Pancras  Cemetery,  bearing  the  name  of  the 
Paoli-avenue,  and  on  one  of  the  facets  of  a  monument  was  a  Latin 
inscription  recording  the  cliief  events  of  the  General's  career  and 
his  flight  to  and  death  in  England.  In  the  tomb,  when  opened, 
was  found  a  leaden  coffin  bearing  this  inscription  :— 

Pascal  de  Paoli 
Corsorum  olini 
Supremus 
Dux  et  Moderator 
Xatus  die  V  Aprilis 

A.D.  1725 
Vita  functus  Londini 
A.D.  1807. 

The  tomb  was  then  again  closed,  pending  the  arrival  of  the 
Departmental  Commission  from  Corsica,  to  whom  the  coffin  will 
hef  officially  handed  over  by  the  parish  authorities  of  St.  Pancras." 


202  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

to  liis  friend  Temple  :  "  Tliis  day  the  clouds  have 
begun  to  recede  from  my  mind,  I  cannot  tell  from  wliat 
cause.  My  promise  under  the  solemn  yew  I  have 
observed  wonderfully,  having  never  infringed  it  till,  the 
other  day,  a  very  jovial  company  of  us  dined  at  a  tavern, 
and  I  unwarily  exceeded  by  a  bottle  of  old  Hock ;  and 
having  once  broke  over  the  pale,  I  run  wild,  but  I  did 
not  get  drunk.  I  was,  however,  intoxicated,  and  very  ill 
next  day."  In  an  amusing  fashion  he  lays  his  fall 
upon  other  shoulders  :  "  The  drunken  manners  of  this 
country  are  very  bad."  He  was,  at  the  same  time, 
earning  something  at  the  Bar,  and  during  the  session 
received  £127  in  fees.* 

*  In  Lord  Hailes'  Reports  we  find  the  Scottish  cases  in  which 
Boswell  was  concerned.  They  amount  to  little  over  a  score  in 
ten  years.     They  are — 


1768. 

Mackenzie  v.  Mackenzie. 

1769. 

Miller  V.  Boyd. 

Porteous  v.  Allen. 

Town  Council  of  Culross  v.  Cochrane. 

1770. 

Muir  V.  Wallace. 

1771. 

Paterson  v.  Tayloi-. 

Millar  v.  Tremarmondo. 

Gray  v.  Reid. 

1772. 

Wilson  V.  Armour. 

Scruton  V.  Gray. 

1773. 

Hinton  v.  Donaldson. 

1774. 

Thomson  v.  Simpson. 

1775. 

Logan  V.  Howatson. 

Anderson  t.  Buchanan. 

Dick  V.  Creditors,  etc. 

Scott  V.  Carmichael. 

Scotland  v.  Thomson. 

1776. 

Malloch  V.  Trustees,  etc. 

Proc.  Fiscal  v.  Murray- 

Johnston  V.  Crawford's  executors. 

Purdie  v.  Hamilton. 

1777. 

Jack  V.  Cramond. 

Elliot  V.  Miickay. 

Campbell  v.  Scotland. 

There  may,  of  course,  have  been  small  "motions,"'  etc.     In  Smith 

V.  Armour,  a  case  of 

"  vicious  intermission,"  Boswell  consulted  his 

BIRTH  OF  A    SON — VISITS   TO   LICHFIELD,  ETC.      203 

As  he  had  now  been  mairied  nearly  six  years,  we 
might  expect  to  find  him  accommodating  himself  to  the 
(Usagrements  of  his  situation.  But  these  seemed  to  grow 
more  acute.  Yet  he  lays  \mro  and  analyzes  his  feelings 
so  naturally,  that  it  is  hard  not  to  sympathize  with  him. 

"My  dear  Temple, — Hero  I  am,  according  to  my 
purpose.  I  came  to  Auchinleck  on  Monday  last,  and  I 
have  patiently  lived  at  it  till  Saturday  evening.  You 
may  remember  how  I  described  to  Lord  Lisburne  the 
causes  of  my  aversion  to  the  country  :  it  is  hardly 
credible  how  difficult  it  is  for  a  man  of  my  sensibility  to 
support  existence  in  the  family  where  I  now  am.  My 
lather,  whom  I  really  both  respect  and  affectionate  (if 
that  is  a  word,  for  it  is  a  different  feeling  from  that 
which  is  expressed  by  love,  which  I  can  say  of  you  from 
my  soul),  is  so  different  from  me.  We  divaricate  so 
much,  as  Dr.  Johnson  said,  that  I  am  often  hurt  when, 
I  dare  say,  he  means  no  harm  ;  and  he  has  a  method  of 
treating  me  which  makes  me  feel  myself  like  a  timid 
hoy,  which  to  Bosivell  (comprehending  all  that  my 
character  does  in  my  own  imagination  and  in  that  of  a 
wonderful  number  of  mankind)  is  intolerable.  His  wife, 
too,  whom  in  my  conscience  I  cannot  condemn  for  any 
capital  bad  quality,  is  so  narrow-minded,  and,  I  don't 
know  how,  so  set  upon  keeping  him  under  her  own 
management,  and  so  suspicious  and  so  sourishly  tem- 
pered, that  it  requires  the  utmost  exertion  of  practical 
philosophy  to  keep  myself  c|uiet.  I  however  have  done 
so  all  this  w^eek  to  admiration  :  nay,  I  have  appeared 

friend,  who  dictated  to  liim  some  generalities  whieli  Boswell  used 
in  his  pleading;  and  in  the  printed  record,  Lord  Hailes  adds  this  note : 
"  From  p.  17  of  Mr.  Boswell's  second  petition.  Dr.  Johnson  dictates." 
It  is  curious  that  this  should  have  escaped  Boswell,  for  it  would 
liave  been  pleasing  to  the  sage. 


204  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

good-liumoured  ;  but  it  luas  cost  me  driiihing'  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  strong  hcer  to  dull  my  faculties.^ 
The  place  is  greatly  improved  ;  it  is  really  princely.  I 
perceive  some  dawnings  of  taste  for  the  country.  I 
have  sauntered  about  with  my  father,  and  he  has  seen 
that  I  am  pleased  with  his  works.  But  ivJiat  a  dis- 
couraging rejiection  is  it  that  lie  has  in  Ids  possession  a 
renunciation  of  my  birthright,  which  I  madly  granted  to 
him,  and  ivhicJi  he  has  not  the  generosity  to  restore  now 
that  I  am  doing  beyond  his  utmost  hopes,  and  that  he 
may  incommode  and  disgrace  me  l;)y  some  strange 
settlements,  while  all  this  time  not  a  shilling  is  secured 
to  my  wife  and  children  in  case  of  my  death  !  You 
know,  my  best  friend,  that  as  an  old  Laird  of  this 
family  gave  the  estate  to  the  heir  male,  though  he  had 
four  daughters,  I  hold  it  as  a  sacred  point  of  honour  not 
to  alter  that  line  of  succession.  Dr.  Johnson  praises 
me  for  my  firmness,  and  my  own  mind  is  immovable. 
There  is  a  kind  of  heroism  in  it,  Ijut  I  have  severe 
paroxysms  of  anxiety." 

Later  on,  when  his  son  became  pressed  with  debts, 
the  old  judge  came  to  his  aid,  but  after  his  own  prudent 
fashion.  "As  he  is  bound  for  .4' 1000  which  I  owe,  he 
has  resolved  to  lessen  his  allowance  to  me  of  £300  to 
^200.  I  must  not  dispute  with  him,  but  he  is  really  a 
strange  man.  He  is  gone  to  Auchinleck.  I  intend  to 
pass  a  little  while  with  him  there  soon,  and  sound  him, 
or  rather  see  just  what  attention  can  produce.''  This 
reduction  of  the  allowance  seems  not  to  have  been  made, 

*  It  is  remarkable  that  Boswell  sliould  liave  been  the  author 
of  two  first-rate  jests,  the  credit  of  which  has  been  given  to  later 
humorists.  One  on  history  under  certain  conditions  being  like  "  an 
Old  Almanac,"  was  Lord  Plunket's;  and  this,  about  drinking  one's- 
self  down  to  the  level,  was  attributed  to  Maulc. 


BIETII   OF  A    SON— VISITS   TO   LICHFIELD,  ETC.      20.") 

In  the  following  year,  177G,  he  was  again  in  town. 
Four  clays  after  his  arrival,  on  March  19th,  he  set  off  witli 
his  friend  on  a  jaunt  to  Oxford  and  other  places.  The 
visit  to  the  University  is  described  in  a  lively  way,  and 
is  noteworthy  as  furnishing  Boswell  with  an  opportunity 
for  making  precise  inquiries,  on  the  spot,  as  to  Johnson's 
academical  life.  With  this  view  he  obtained  the  most 
"  authentic  information "  from  Dr.  Adams,  Johnson's 
tutor,  and  others.* 

They  passed  on  to  Blenheim  ;  remained  a  night  at 
that  fine  old  inn,  the  Eed  Lion,  at  Henley,  which,  on 
the  annual  boat-race  day,  we  always  find  ourselves 
surveying  with  greater  interest  than  we  do  the  struggle 
on  the  river  ;  and  arrived  at  Birmingham  on  March  22nd, 
passing  afterwards  to  Lichfield,  where  they  put  up  at 
the  Three  Crowns.  There  Boswell  was  introduced  to 
Johnson's  relations  and  to  the  Garricks. 

On  this  pleasantly  described  junketing,  Johnson  was 
much  feted,  Mrs.  Aston,  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Gastrell, 
a  widow,  were  living  at  Stowhill,  and  invited  Johnson 
to  dine,  but  left  out  his  friend.  "  Johnson  walked 
away  to  dinner  there,"  he  says,  "leaving  me  by  myself, 
without  apology.  I  wonder  at  this  want  of  the  facility  of 
manners,  from  which  a  man  has  no  difficulty  in  carrying 
a  friend  to  a  house  where  he  is  intimate."  This,  it 
seems,  was  Boswell's  habit,  for  which  he,  no  doubt,  met 
with  many  a  snub.  Johnson,  however,  prided  himself 
on  being  a  polite  man,  and  never  took  such  freedoms. 
Boswell  was  beginning  to  resent  his  treatment ;  when 
he  was  soon  relieved,  and  '"  convinced  that  my  friend, 

*  This  opens  an  interesting  question,  which  was  first  started  by 
]\Ir.  Croker,  then  investigated  by  the  present  writer,  and  later 
discussed  by  Dr.  Birkbeck  Hill,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Napier,  and  others, 
namely,  whether  Johnson  stayed  his  full  time  at  Oxford. 


206  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

instecad  of  being  deficient  in  delicacy,  had  conducted 
the  matter  with  perfect  propriety "  ("  deficient  in 
delicacy "  is  good :  that  is,  not  intruding  him  where 
he  was  not  asked)  :  he  had  secured  an  invitation  in 
form  for  his  friend,  and  the  invitation  ran  :  "  Mrs. 
Gastrell,  at  the  Lower  House,  on  Stowhill,  desires 
Mr.  Boswell's  company  to  dinner  at  two."  Now, 
this  was  good-natured  and  thoughtful  on  the  part  of 
Johnson,  as  well  as  on  the  part  of  the  lady.  But  it  looks 
as  if  Boswell  could  not  pass  over  the  original  affront  of 
not  asking  him  on  his  own  merits,  and,  with  the 
unhappy  pettiness  and  lack  of  propriety,  which  so 
often  affected  him,  he  took  this  mode  of  marking  his 
displeasure  :  "  I  was  not  informed  till  afterwards  that 
Mrs.  GastrclVs  husband  was  the  clergyman  who  luitJi 
Gotliic  barbarity  cut  down  Shahespeares  'mulberry  tree, 
and,  as  Dr.  Johnson  told  me,  did  it  to  vex  his  neigh- 
bours. His  lady,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  on  the  same 
authority,  participated  in  the  guilt  of  what  enthusiasts 
of  our  immortal  bard  deemed  a  sort  of  sacrilege."  Mr. 
Boswell  seems  to  hint  that  had  he  known  of  the  "  sacri- 
lege "  he  would  not  have  put  foot  in  her  house  !  This 
seems  extraordinary. 

They  now  set  off  for  Dr.  Taylor's  Parsonage  at 
Ashbourne,  down  which  the  oft-quoted  "  Derby  Dilly 
glides."  Boswell  sketches  the  scene  in  a  few  admiral^le 
touches, — again  we  say  it,  in  a  style  worthy  of  the  old 
comedy  writers  :  "On  Tuesday,  March  2Gth,  there 
came  for  us  an  equipage,  perfectly  suited  to  a  wealthy, 
well  beneficed  clergyman, — Taylor's  large,  roomy  post- 
chaise,  drawn  by  firm,  stout,  plump  horses,  and  driven 
by  two  steady  jolly  postillions,  which  conveyed  us  to 
Ashbourne,  where  I  found  his  friend  and  schoolfellow, 
living   upon    an  establishment  perfectly  corresponding 


s 


Binril   OF  J    SON — VISITS    TO   LICHFIELD,  ETC.      207 

with  liis  substantitil,  creditable  equipage  :  his  house, 
garden,  pleasure  grounds,  table,  in  short  everything 
good,  and  no  scantiness  appearing.  Dr.  Taylor  had  a 
good  estate  of  his  own,  and  a  good  preferment  in  the 
Church.  His  size,  and  figure,  and  countenance,  and 
manner  w^erc  that  of  a  hearty  English  squire,  with  the 
parson  superinduced  ;  and  I  took  particular  notice  of 
his  servant,  Mr.  Peters,  a  grave  decent  man,  in  purple 
clothes,  and  a  large  wdiite  wig,  like  the  butler  or  major- 
domo  of  a  Bishop."  This  portrait  is  excellent  and 
unaffected  ;  pages  of  writing  would  not  so  Avell  describe 
the  owner  and  his  establishment. 

They  did  not  stay  here  long,  as  they  were  called  back 
to  Loudon  by  the  news  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Thrale's  son. 
To  dissipate  their  grief,  the  Thrales  were  proposing  to 
make  a  tour  in  Italy  and  to  carry  the  doctor  with  them  ; 
and  it  is  evident,  from  a  little  stroke,  that  Mr.  Boswell 
was  uneasy  at  his  friend's  being  conducted  by  any  one 
but  himself.  He,  indeed,  says  that  he — "pressed  it  as 
much  as  I  could.  I  mentioned  that  Mr.  Beauclerk  had 
said  that  Baretti,  whom  they  were  to  carry  with  them, 
w^ould  keep  them  so  long  in  the  little  towns  of  his  own 
district,  that  they  would  not  have  time  to  see  Eome. 
J  mentioned  this  to  put  tJieni  on  their  guard.  Johnsox. 
'  Sir,  we  do  not  thank  Mr.  Beauclerk  for  supposing  that 
we  are  to  be  directed  by  Baretti.'"  In  this  way  Boswell 
often  became  a  mischief-maker,  as  here  he  must  have 
excited  some  angry  feeling  both  against  Beauclerk  and 
Baretti.  On  April  2Gth,  Boswell  followed  his  friend  to 
Bath,  which  he  describes  agreeably,  and  went  over  with 
him  to  Bristol  to  explore  St.  Mary  Redclyffe,  and  examine 
into  the  Chatterton  controversy.  Here,  again,  we  have 
one  of  those  airy  sketches  in  which  Boswell  excelled,  and 
wdiicli  shows  his  turn  for  seizing  on  the  latently  humorous. 


208  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

Boswell  was  always  rather  credulous  in  tlic  matter 
of  such    impostures.       When    Ireland's    extraordinary 
Shakespeare  fal)rication  was  exciting  public  attention, 
it  might  be  anticipated  that  he  would  have  eagerly  and 
impetuously  joined  the   train  of  dupes.     Indeed  there 
w^as  little  reserve  in   his    advocacy,  thougli    he    could 
laugh  at  "  honest  Catcot  the  pewterer's  "  credulity  in  the 
affair  of  Chatterton.     We  are,  however,  hardly  prejDared 
for  this  display  of  enthusiasm.     Ireland  describes  the 
scene:    "As  the   circumstances    attending    Mr.    James 
Boswell's   inspection    of    the    manuscripts    have   been 
variously  represented,   and   as  I   was   present    on  that 
occasion,  I  shall  state  the  facts  as  they  really  occurred. 
On  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Boswell,  the  papers  were,  as  usual, 
placed  before  him,  when  he  commenced  his  examination 
of  them  ;  and  being  satisfied  as  to  their  antiquity,  as  far 
as  the  external  appearance  would  attest,  he  proceeded  to 
examine  the  style  of  the  language  from  the  fair  transcripts 
made  from  the  disguised  handwritino-.     In  this  research 
Mr.  Boswell  continued  for  a  considerable  length  of  time, 
constantly  speaking  in  favour  of  the  internal  as  well  as 
external  proofs  of  the  validity  of  the  manuscripts  ;  and 
at   length,  rising   from  his  chair,  he  made  "use  of  the 
following  expression,  '  Well,  I  shall  now  die  contented, 
since  I  have  lived  to  witness   the  present   day.'     Mr. 
Boswell  tlicn  hieeUng  down  before  the  volume  containmg 
a  jwrtion  of  the  2^ct2ycrs,  contimied,  '  I    now   kiss   the 
invaluable  relics  of  our  bard ;  and  thanks  to  God  that 
I  have  lived  to  see  them  ! '     Having  kissed  the  volume 
with   every   token    of  reverence,    Mr.    Boswell   shortly 
afterwards  quitted   Mr.   Ireland's  house :  and  although 
I  believe  he  revisited  the  papers  on  some  future  occasions, 
yet  that  was  the  only  time  I  was  honoured  with  a  sight 
of  Mr.  James  Boswell."  * 

*  "  Confc'i^.sionp,"'  p.  95. 


BlRTn  OF  A   SON — VISITS   TO   LICHFIELD,  ETC.      20D 

Perliaps  the  most  masterly  sketch  in  Boswell's 
chronicle,  as  most  judges  agree,  is  the  account  of  the 
dinner  at  Dilly's,  on  May  15th,  at  which  he  contrived 
that  Johnson  and  his  old  enemy  Wilkes  should  meet. 
The  varied  comedy  of  this  picture,  the  knowledge  of 
human  character,  the  genial  gaiety  and  variety  of 
the  scene,  the  abundance  of  detail  yet  all  essential, 
have  stamped  Boswell  as  a  writer  of  the  first  class. 
The  old  masters  of  comedy  have  nothing  better  than 
his  ingenious  device  for  getting  Johnson  to  acce|)t  the 
invitation. 

"  I  am  persuaded  that  if  I  had  come  upon  him  w^ith 
a  direct  proposal,  '  Sir,  will  you  dine  in  company  with 
Jack  Wilkes  ? '  he  would  have  flown  into  a  passion,  and 
would  probably  have  answered,  '  Dine  with  Jack  AVilkes, 
sir  ?  I'd  as  soon  dine  with  Jack  Ketch ! '  I  therefore, 
while  we  were  sitting  quietly  l)y  ourselves  at  his  house 
in  an  evening,  took  occasion  to  open  my  plans  thus  : 
'  Mr.  Dilly,  sir,  sends  his  respectful  compliments  to  you, 
and  would  be  happy  if  you  would  do  him  the  honour  to 
dine  with  him  on  Wednesday  next,  along  with  me  ? ' 
Johnson.  '  Sir,  I  am  obliged  to  Mr.  Dilly  ;  I  will  wait 
npon  him.'  Boswell.  '  Provided,  sir,  I  suppose,  that 
the  company  which  he  is  to  have  is  agreeable  to  you  ? ' 
Johnson.  '  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ?  What  do  you  take 
me  for  ?  Do  you  think  I  am  so  ignorant  of  the  world 
as  to  imagine  that  I  am  to  prescribe  to  a  gentleman  what 
company  he  is  to  have  at  his  table  ? '  Boswell.  *  I  beg 
your  pardon,  sir,  for  wishing  to  prevent  you  from 
meeting  people  whom  you  might  not  like.  Perhaps  he 
may  have  some  of  what  he  calls  his  particular  friends 
with  him.'  Johnson.  '  Well,  sir,  and  what  then  ?  What 
care  I  for  his  particular  friends  ?  Poh  ! '  Boswell.  '  I 
should  not  be  surprised   to  find   Jack    Wilkes   there.' 

VOL.  I.  p 


210  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

Johnson.  '  And  if  Jack  Wilkes  should  be  there,  what  is 
that  to  me,  sir  ?  My  dear  friend,  let  us  have  no  more 
of  this.  I  am  sorry  to  be  angry  with  you  :  but  really  it 
is  treating  me  strangely  to  talk  to  me  as  if  I  could  not 
meet  any  company  whatever,  occasionally.'  Boswell. 
'  Pray  forgive  me,  sir, — ^I  meant  w^ell.  But  you  shall 
meet  whoever  comes,  for  me  ! '     Thus  I  secured  him  !  " 

This,  as  I  said,  is  worthy  of  one  of  our  best  drama- 
tists. The  dinner  is  described  in  the  same  comedy 
spirit.  As  there  w^ere  some  difficulties  before  he  could 
be  got  off,  Boswell  exclaims  w^itli  genuine  wit,  "  When 
I  had  him  fairly  seated  in  a  hackney  coach  with  me, 
I  exulted  as  much  as  a  fortune  hunter,  who  has  got  an 
heiress  into  a  post-chaise  with  him  to  set  out  for 
Gretna."  * 

*  And  yet,  wliilc  admiring  and  giving  him  all  praise,  we  feel 
that  when  Johnson  thought  it  over,  he  must  have  been  conscious 
that  he  had  been  the  subject  of  a  trick,  or  that  he  had  been  made 
to  trick  himself.  It  was  scarcely  fair  or  respectful  to  "  corner  "  the 
sage  in  this  style,  and,  though  the  result  was  happy  enough,  it 
might  have  turned  out  the  reverse.  There  is  also  anotlaer  view.  It 
was  part  of  Johnson's  high  pi-inciples  not  to  meet  persons  of  dis- 
reputable or  unorthodox  life  ;  and  it  is  rather  an  unworthy  triumph 
to  succeed  in  causing  such  a  departure  from  his  fixed  practice. 


(     2IL     ) 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

"the   HYPOCHONDMACK  " — OTHER    ECCENTRICITIES. 

On  the  day  following  tliis  triumph,  Boswell  set  off  on  his 
return  home.  After  defenclino;  his  friend  from  the  charge 
of  being  harsh  and  rough,  he  says  happily  enough  :  "I 
admit  that  the  Beadle  with  him  was  often  so  easfer  to 
apply  the  lash,  that  the  Judge  had  not  time  to  consider 
the  case  with  sufficient  deliberation," — a  remark  which, 
if  not  witty,  is  decidedly  happy,  gay,  and  apposite.  On 
his  return  Boswell  was,  as  usual,  disturbed  by  the  "  black 
fumes,"  induced  probably  by  the  ennui  of  his  situation, 
which  he  so  much  disliked.  He  was  again  at  variance 
with  his  father,  and  his  creditors  were  pressing  him. 
Much  dejected,  he  wrote  to  his  friend  for  advice,  and 
was  directed  to  "  read  Cheyne's  '  English  Malady  ; '  but 
do  not  let  him  teach  you  a  foolish  notion  that  melan- 
choly is  a  proof  of  acuteness."  But,  thinking  he  had 
been  too  harsh,  Johnson  wrote  to  him  at  once :  "  I  make 
haste  to  write  again,  lest  my  last  letter  should  give  you 
too  much  pain.  If  you  are  really  oppressed  with  over- 
powering and  involuntary  melancholy,  you  are  to  be 
pitied  rather  than  reproached."  And  this  had  some 
effect. 

How  much  Boswell  suffered  from  these  attacks  of 
gloom  and  low  spirits  is  evident  all  through  the  progress 
■of  his  work.     Towards  the  close  of  his  life  the  affliction 


212  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

increased  to  an  alarming  degree,  no  doubt  owing  to 
liis  habit  of  havino-  recourse  to  the  bottle  for  relief. 
This,  in  fact,  accounted  for  those  long  intervals  when  he 
could  not  bring  himself  to  write  to  his  great  friend,  wh» 
assumed  that  he  was  indulging  in  suUenness  or  tricks, 
a  sort  of  morbid  shrinking  from  a  particular  step, 
which  is  indeed  a  symptom  of  a  mind  diseased.  Unfor- 
tunately, too,  his  affairs  grew  so  embarrassed  that  he 
Avould  have  required  the  aid  of  the  most  buoyant  spirits- 
to  struo'oie  with  his  difficulties. 

Johnson,  as  we  have  seen,  recommended  him  to  study 
Dr.  Cheyne's  work  on  "The  English  Malady."  But  he 
"would  have  found  greater  assistance,  had  he  lived  a 
generation  or  so  later,  in  the  adminible  essays  of  "  Con- 
versation Sharpe,"  which  contain  the  most  valuable  and 
practical  hints  on  the  subject  that  have  been  w^ritten. 
Bos  well,  by  way  of  finding  relief,  at  last  took  the  subject 
in  hand  himself,  and  contributed  to  the  London  Mac/a- 
zine,  of  1777,  a  series  of  curious  essays,  entitled  "  The 
Hy^^ochondriac,"  Avritten  in  a  discursive  agreeable  style, 
and  which  do  credit  to  his  literary  power.  As  these 
productions  are  but  little  known,  the  admirers  of  "  Our 
Bosw^ell "  will  \Yelcomc  a  few  extracts. 

He  commenced  them  in  the  October  number,  wdth 
an  apropos  motto  from  Horace,  freely  translated : — 

"  What  will  avail  tlie  "wi-etched  mind  to  ease 
And  mnch  abate  tlie  dismal  Black  Disease  ?  " 

and  then  he  ranges  over  a  variety  of  tojoics,  which  only 
incidentally  refer  to  the  main  subject  of  his  studies. 

"  To  undertake  the  w^riting  of  a  large  book,  is  like 
entering  on  a  long  and  difficult  journey,  in  the  course  of 
which  much  fatigue  must  be  undergone,  while  at  the 
same  time  one  is  uncertain  of  reachinsj  the  end  of  it. 
Whereas  writing  a  short  essay  is  like  taking  a  pleasant 


"  THE  IlYrOCIlONDBIA CK  *' —  OIIIER  ECCENTRICITIES.    213 

«a,iring  tliat  eDlivens  and  invigorates  ])y  tlie  exercise 
wliick  it  yields,  wliile  tlio  design  is  gratified  in  its  com- 
pletion." After  an  agreeable  disquisition  on  periodical 
literature  and  the  pleasure  of  writing  them,  lie  goes  on 
to  deal  with  what  was  nearer  his  heart,  the  disease  from 
which  he  suffered  so  acutely — "  the  spleen  or  vapours." 

"  From  my  title  of  Ilijpochondriack  I  would  not  have 
it  thought  that  1  am  at  present  actually  labouring  under 
that  malady ;  but  as  it  is  a  saying  in  feudal  treatises, 
i^emel  Baro,  semper  Baro ;  or  as  one  who  has  had  ;l 
commission  in  the  army  is  ever  after  called  captain,  so  I 
call  myself  the  Hypochondriack,  as  from  former  suflferings 
I  am  so  well  acquainted  with  the  distemper,  liypoclion- 
ih'ia,  that  I  think  myself  qualified  to  assist  some  of  my 
unhappy  companions  who  are  now  groaning  under  it. 
I  cannot  say  that  I  ever  fancied  myself  made  of  glass, 
or  that  my  stomach  was  a  stall  with  a  cobbler  at  work 
in  it.  But  I  have  suffered  much  of  the  fretfulness  and. 
f/Ioom,  and  the  despair  that  can  torment  a  thinJcing 
being,  and  the  time  has  been  that  I  could  no  more  have 
believed  it  possible  for  me  to  write  such  a  paper  as  this, 
than  I  can  now  believe  it  possible  for  me  to  write  a 
*  Spectator '  or  a  '  Kambler.' " 

During  tw^o  years  and  a  half  he  continued  to  furnish 
41  paper  every  month,  in  which  he  dealt  with  the  subjects 
■of  Love,  Fear,  Death,  Cookery,  etc.,  illustrating  each  in  a 
very  lively  and  agreeable  fashion.  Dealing  with  fear,  he 
has  some  characteristical  remarks,  which  apply  to  him- 
self. "  There  is  a  religious  fear,  which,  however  mis- 
understood, by  the  gloomy  on  the  one  hand,  and  the 
giddy  on  the  other,  is,  when  properly  considered,  not 
only  highly  rational,  but  trtdy  agreeaUe.  The  dismal 
apprehensions  that  the  Supreme  Being  is  stern  and 
.severe,  should  be  far  from  His  creatures ;  and  we  are 


214  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

warned  against  it  by  our  Saviour.  The  religious  fear 
which  I  mean  to  inculcate,  is  that  reverential  awe  for 
the  Most  Hia:li  Ruler  of  the  universe,  mixed  with  affec- 
tionate  gratitude  and  hope,  by  which  our  minds  are 
kept  steady,  calm  and  placid.  ...  I  am  scnsil)le  that 
this  is  a  subject  of  so  sublime  and  delicate  a  nature,  that 
precise  precepts  ought  not  to  be  given.  ...  I  would 
only  recommend  them  to  my  reader's  piety  in  general." 
But  it  is  more  immediately  with  hypochondriacal  fear 
that  he  would  deal.  "  Unless  it  be  some  extremely 
excruciating  bodily  torment,"  he  says,  "  it  is  certain  that 
the  ills  of  life  appear  more  dreadful  at  a  distance  than 
when  actually  felt.  Supremest  poverty  and  the  loss  of 
our  dearest  friends  and  relations,  from  the  prospect  of 
which  we  shrink  with  dismay,  prove  more  mild  in  reality 
than  in  fancy,  and  bring  along  with  them  alleviations 
which  cannot  be  discerned  till  they  are  felt."  This  is 
happily  expressed.  "  The  reflection  should  make  us  less 
aff^ected  by  the  thoughts  of  their  appearing  to  us,  when 
these  thoughts  are  forced  upon  our  minds  ;  for  we  should 
exert  our  reason  to  dispel  false  terrors,  and  in  proportion 
as  terrors  are  greater  than  they  should  be,  they  are  false. 
"  I  am,  however,  by  no  means  of  opinion  with  some, 
that  we  should  habitually  employ  our  minds  in  the  con- 
templation of  possible  evils,  in  order  that  we  may  be  less 
hurt  by  them  when  they  actually  happen,  because  such 
contemplation  is  certain  uneasiness,  whereas  that  its 
objects  shall  ever  exist  is  uncertain.  We  should  there- 
fore be  acting  as  unwisely,  as  if  we  should,  while  in 
full  health,  undergo  a  course  of  disagreeable  medicines 
against  diseases  to  which  human  nature  is  subject,  but 
with  which  we  ourselves  may  never  be  attacked.  A 
potion  is  taken  soon  enough,  when  we  are  compelled  to 
swallow  it.    Besides,  I  am  not  at  all  clear  that  evils,  when 


"  THE  IlYPOCnONDRlA CK " — OTHER  ECCENTRICITIES.    215 

they  actually  happen,  will  be  less  felt  by  us  from  havin<; 
contemplated  them  long  before.  They  will  come  loaded 
with  a  ofreat  deal  of  additional  darkness  from  the  clouds 
of  imafrination  ;  and  if  the  mind  be  weakened  and  w^orn 
by  ftmciful  sufferings,  it  will  be  less  able  to  bear  a  severe 
shock,  than  if  it  met  with  that  sound  vigour  which  is 
]»roduced  by  security  and  happiness."  There  is  acute 
discrimination  in  this  latter  speculation,  and  these  nice 
shadings  of  emotion  are  rather  picturesquely  expressed. 

Leaving  aside  these  topics,  he  then  proceeds  to  deal 
with  the  subject  of  war,  which  he  introduced  by  a 
description  of  his  visit  to  the  Arsenal  at  Venice,  and 
where — "my  thoughts  rebounded,  if  I  may  use  the 
expression,  from  what  I  believed,  and  the  effect  was 
that  I  was  stunned  into  a  state  of  amazement.  The 
workmen,  who  were  there  engaged,  however,  felt  nothing 
of  the  horrors  of  war,  but  only  the  prospect  of  wages, 
comforts,  etc.  ...  We  must  have  the  telescope  of 
philosophy  to  make  us  perceive  distant  ills.  Nay,  we 
know  there  are  individuals  to  whom  the  immediate 
misery  of  others  is  nothing  in  comparison  with  their 
own  advantage :  for  we  know  that  in  every  age  there 
have  been  found  men  very  willing  to  perform  the  office 
of  executioner,  even  for  a  moderate  hire."  He  then 
relates  a  curious  story. 

"  But  I  shall  never  forget,  nor  cease  to  wonder,  at  a 
most  extraordinary  instance  of  thoughtless  intrepidity, 
which  I  had  related  to  me  by  a  cousin  of  mine,  now 
a  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  British  Army,  who  was 
on  guard  when  it  happened.  A  soldier  of  one  of  the 
regiments  in  garrison  at  Minorca,  having  been  found 
guilty  of  a  capital  crime,  was  brought  out  to  be  hanged. 
They  had  neglected  to  have  a  rope  in  readiness,  and  the 
shockino-  business  was  at  a  stand.     The  fellow,  with  a 


216  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOS  WELL. 

spirit  and  alcrtucss  wliicli,  in  a  general,  would,  upon 
a  difficult  trying  emergency,  have  been  very  great 
presence  of  mind  and  conduct,  stripped  the  lace  off  his 
hat,  said  '  This  will  do,'  and  actually  made  it  serve  as 
the  fatal  cord."  Here  we  see  how  w^ll  Boswell  can  tell 
a  story,  and  no  lesson  could  be  better  selected. 

Wise  as  were  these  remarks  and  warnings,  it  is  no 
surprise  to  find  that  the  physician  could  not  cure 
himself.  Year  by  year  the  "  inspissated  gloom,"  as 
Johnson  might  have  styled  it,  deepened,  enfeebling  all 
his  efforts,  until  at  last  he  became  helpless  to  resist,  or 
even  to  make  an  effort  to  resist. 

His  reflections  on  love  and  marriao^e  are  livelv 
enough.  "  I  had  once  a  dispute  with  a  philosopher  of 
the  first  eminence,  wdiether  or  not  a  man  whose  addresses 
have  been  refused  by  a  woman  should  think  it  a  dis- 
paragement to  him.  I  maintained  that  he  should  not, 
because  it  is  no  more  than  a  proof  that  he  is  not  agreeable 
to  her  particular  fancy  :  and  he  may  have  a  full  conviction 
that  the  man  whom  she  prefers  to  him  is  his  inferior  in 
every  respect.  But  it  was  given  against  me  upon  this 
medium,  that  a  man  who  has  unsuccessfully  attempted 
to  please  has  reason  to  be  humbled  at  his  failure,  and 
other  women  regard  witli  inferiority  him  who  they  know 
has  been  rejected." 

We  may  wonder  what  Mrs.  Boswell  would  have 
thought  of  this  passage,  which  she  may  have  never  read  : 
"Whatever  respect  I  have  for  the  institution  of  marriage, 
I  cannot  but  be  of  opinion  that  the  passion  of  Love  has 
been  improperly  feigned  as  continuing  long  after  the  con- 
jugal knot  has  been  tied.  .  .  .  Yet  there  is  no  doubt 
that  experience  affords  sufficient  conviction  that  all  the 
rapture,  where  rapture  has  been  felt,  is  very  transient. 
I  do  not  limit  its  existence  to  any  precise  portion   of 


*'  THE  IlYPOCnONDJilA CK " —  0 TIIEB  ECCENTItlCITIES.    Ill 

time,  but  it  is  surely  very  sliort."  In  auotlicr  iniraber 
lie  again  takes  up  the  consideration  of  the  Hypo- 
chondriacal disease,  speaking  of  "IIV  IL/pocJiondriackf>." 
When  addressing:  himself  to  his  atrabilious  brethren  in 
general,  he  would  not  be  afraid  of  giving  offence, — 
*'  though  I  should  not  chuse  to  do  it  to  any  particular 
person,  as  there  might  be  some  danger  from  irritable 
delivery.  I  remember  hearing  a  late  celebrated  infidel 
tell  he  was  not  at  all  pleased  when  an  infidel  wife  of 
his  friend,  a  poet  of  some  eminence,  addressed,  him  in 
a  company  in  London,  '  AVe  Deists.'  '  Si)eak  for  your- 
self, madam,'  said  he,  abruptly."  He  doubted,  "having 
closely  studied  numbers  affected  with  that  disease," 
whether  it  is  peculiarly  to  be  found  in  men  of  remarkable 
excellence  ;  and  he  had  often  ojjserved  that  many  even 
cherish  and  encourage  the  malady  on  this  ground,  "just 
iis  young  ladies  submit  to  have  their  ears  pierced  without 
comjDlaint,  that  they  may  be  decorated  with  brilliant 
ornaments."  Nothino;  can  be  more  wholesome  than  our 
mentor's  admonitions  on  this  head :  the  disease  should 
be  resisted,  and  company  sought.  But  "  people  too  often 
ascribe  to  disease  what  is  in  reality  vice."  He  then 
recalls  a  passage  in  Fielding's  "Amelia,"  owning  that  at 
the  time  he  was  "  very  severely  afflicted  with  Hypo- 
chondria ;  and  I  well  remember  that  by  comparing  it 
with  my  immediate  suffering  I  was  struck  with  the 
justness  of  the  representation." 

In  his  fourth  number,  Boswell  shows  with  much 
force  the  sinfulness  of  all  excess — particularly  of  excess 
in  drinking  !  This,  he  says,  is  promoted  by  the  seducing 
taste  of  rich  wines,  by  the  gaiety  and  splendour  associated 
with  o-rand  entertainments,  and  "  bv  minoliDo:  love  and 
friendship,  amiable  and  valuable  qualities,  with  the  heat 
•and  hurry  of  spirits  arising  from  intoxication."     Who 


218  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

knew  this  better  than  Bozzy  ?  But  at  this  interesting 
point  he  stopped  short, — "  as  I  intend  to  treat  of  drink- 
ing in  a  future  paper  appropriated  to  that  subject  alone." 

Of  excess  in  wealth,  he  is  convinced  that  to  have  a 
great  deal  more  wealth  than  one  can  employ  is  to  be 
unhappy,  "  It  is  like  having  much  more  body  than 
one  has  spirit  to  animate,  the  superfluous  part  of  which 
is  therefore  a  lifeless  unwieldy  and  irksome  mass.  I  do 
not  maintain  that  a  man  is  the  worse  for  being  plump, 
or  as  the  French  say,  en  hon  point."  Excess  in  poverty, 
however,  he  also  objects  to. 

"  One  of  the  most  expressive  descriptions  of  the 
situation  of  a  man  about  to  die  was  that  of  an  old  Scotch 
laird  upon  his  death-bed,  '  I  am  half  lleyt'  {i.e.  afraid), 
'  and  half  new  fangled.'  There  must,  in  a  mind  of  any 
vivacity,  be  a  mixture  of  fear  and  curiosity  ;  and  it  is 
strange  that  curiosity  uj^on  that  occasion  is  not  stronger, 
considering  what  amazing  scenes  of  novelty  are  about 
to  open."  And  again  :  "  1  cannot  agree  with  a  hearty 
fellow  who  said  that  a  man  who  loves  a  good  dinner,  and 
gets  it  every  day,  is  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  times 
in  a  year  happy,  which  he  could  not  be  in  any  other 
way."  He  then  wonders  at  the  low  personal  estimation, 
if  not  contempt,  in  which  cooks  are  held,  though  their 
work  is  admired.  Tailors,  also,  are  singularly  despised. 
"A  man  would  rather  have  it  said  that  his  father  was 
a  blacksmith  or  a  bricklayer."  What  follows  is  truly 
Boswellian :  "  There  is  something,  I  think,  particularly 
indelicate  and  disgusting  in  the  idea  of  a  eoohnaid. 
Imagination  can  easily  cherish  a  fondness  for  a  pretty 
chamber-maid  or  dairy-maid,  but  one  is  revolted  by  the 
greasiness  and  sco)rhing  connected  with  the  wench  who 
toils  in  the  kitchen.  A  French  cook's  notion  of  his  own 
consequence  is  prodigious.     A  friend  of  mine  told  mo 


"  THE  E  YPO CnONDRIA  CK  " —  0  TIIER  ECCENTRICITIES.   2  i  0 

that  lie  engaged  one  for  Sir  Benjamin  Keen,  when 
Ambassador  in  Spain.  When  he  asked  the  fellow  if  he 
had  ever  dressed  any  magnificent  dinners,  the  answer 
was,  '  Monsieur,  j'ai  aceommodo  un  diner,  qui  faisait 
trembler  toute  la  France  ! '  " 

"  He  whose  name  is  last  put  to  a  story  should  first 
be  answerable  :  and  let  him  have  recourse  upon  those 
through  whom  it  has  been  conveyed  to  him."  Here, 
however,  Boswell  had  helped  himself  to  a  familiar 
passage  in  "  The  School  for  Scandal." 

It  is  strange  to  find  a  person,  who  sufi'ered  so  acutely 
from  the  "  fumes "  of  depression,  taking  delight  in 
such  a  dismal  form  of  excitement  as  public  executions. 
In  this  strange  taste  he  seems  to  have  been  almost  as 
great  an  "amateur"  as  Mr.  Selwyn.  The  same  morbid 
fancy  or  curiosity  drew  him  into  waiting  on  Mrs. 
Rudd.  He  cultivated  the  acquaintance  of  governors  of 
prisons,  chaplains,  etc.,  whose  society  is  not  generally 
in  demand.  He  thus  obtained  the  privileges  of  entree, 
and,  through  the  favour  of  the  governor  and  "  ordinary  " 
of  Newgate,  was  admitted  to  the  prisoners  under  sentence, 
and  often  attended  them,  in  the  mourning  coach,  to  the 
oallows !  He  was  thus  enabled  to  entertain  his  friends 
with  many  curious  anecdotes ;  as  in  the  instance  of 
Hackman,  the  murderer  of  Miss  Ray.  whose  execution  he 
also  attended.  Johnson,  as  he  tells  us,  and  other  friends 
wdtli  whom  he  was  dining,  "  were  much  interested  in  my 
account  of  what  passed,  and  particularly  with  his  prayers 
for  the  mercy  of  Heaven."  His  feelings  were  so  wrought 
upon,  that,  next  evening,  he  sent  to  the  St.  James 
Clironicle  an  article  on  his  sensations, 

"  I  am  just  come  from  attending  the  trial  and  con- 
demnation of  the  unfortunate  Mr,  Hackman,  and  must 
own  that  I  feel  an  unusual  depression  of  spirits,  joined 


220  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOS  WELL. 

with  the  pause  which  so  solemn  a  warniDg  of  the  dreadful 
effects  that  the  passion  of  love  must  give  all  of  us  who 
have  lively  sensations  and  warm  tempers.  His  case  is 
one  of  the  most  remarkable  that  ever  occurred  in  the 
history  of  human  nature,  but  it  is  by  no  means 
unnatural.  The  principle  of  it  is  very  philosophically 
displayed,  and  illustrated  in  the  Ili/pochondriack,  in  a 
periodical  paper  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  people  of 
England."  The  periodical  thus  handsomely  alluded  to 
was  one  in  which  he  wrote  largely,  and  of  which  he 
was  part  proprietor.  The  account  of  the  execution  in 
the  same  paper  was  certainly  supplied  by  Mr.  BoswelL* 
"  Tuesday,  April,  1779. — A  little  after  five  yesterday 
morning  the  Eev.  Mr.  Hackman  got  up,  dressed  himself, 
and  was  at  private  meditation  till  near  seven,  when  Mr. 
Boswell  and  the  two  gentlemen  waited  on  him,  and 
4iccompauied  him  to  the  chapel,  where  prayers  were  read 
by  the  ordinary  of  Newgate ;  after  which  he  received 
the  sacrament.  Between  eight  and  nine  he  came  down 
from  chapel,  and  was  haltered ;  when  the  sheriff's  officer 
took  his  cord  from  the  bag  to  perform  his  duty,  Mr. 
Hackman  said,  '  Oh,  the  sight  of  this  shocks  me  more 
than  the  thought  of  its  intended  operation  ! '  He  then 
shed  a  few  tears,  and  took  leave  of  the  two  gentlemen  in 
a  very  affecting  manner.  He  was  then  conveyed  to  n 
mourning  coach,  attended  by  Mr.  Villette  the  ordinary, 
Mr.  Boswell,  and  IMr.  Davenport  the  sheriff's  officer, 
when  the  procession  set  out  for  Tyburn,  in  the  folio  wing- 
manner,  viz.  JNIr.  ]\liller.  City  Marshall,  on  horseback, 
in  mourning ;  a  number  of  sheriff's  officers  on  horseback, 

■'■=  The  reader  will  recall  the  "  violent  altercation  "  which  tliis 
nnhappy  business  gave  rise  to  between  Johnson  and  his  friend 
Beauclerk,  and  which  Boswell  says  '•  made  a  great  noise  at  the 
time.      ■  ■ 


"  THE  HYPO  CnONDRIA  CK  " —  0  TIIER  ECCENTUICITIES.    221 

constables,  etc.  ;  Mr.  Sheriff  Kitclieii,  the  prisoner,  with 
the  aforementioned  persons  in  tlie  mourning  coach, 
officers,  etc. ;  the  cart,  hung  in  black,  out  of  which  lie 
was  to  make  his  exit.  On  his  arrival  at  Tyburn  he  got 
out  of  the  coach,  mounted  the  cart,  and  took  an  affec- 
tionate leave  of  Mr.  Boswell  and  the  ordinary.  After 
some  time  spent  in  prayer  he  was  tied  up,  and  about  ten 
minutes  past  eleven  he  was  launched  into  eternity.  After 
liano-iD2:  there  the  usual  time,  his  body  was  brought  to 
Suroeons'  Hall  for  dissection. 

"  AVhen  Mr.  Hackman  got  into  the  cart  under  the 
gallows,  he  immediately  kneeled  down  wdth  his  face 
towards  the  horses,  and  prayed  for  some  time ;  lie  then 
rose  and  joined  in  prayer  with  Mr.  Yillette  and  Mr. 
Boswell  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  when  he  desired  to 
be  permitted  to  have  a  few  minutes  to  himself;  the 
clergyman  then  took  leave  of  him.  His  request  being 
granted,  he  informed  his  executioner  when  lie  was  pre- 
pared lie  would  drop  his  handkerchief  as  a  signal ; 
accordingly,  after  praying  about  six  or  seven  minutes  to 
himself,  he  dropped  his  handkerchief,  and  the  cart  was 
drawn  from  under  him." 

In  1776  the  extraordinary  trial  of  the  Perreaus 
and  the  notorious  Mrs.  Margaret  Rudd  was  the  engross - 
ino-  talk  of  the  town.  This  disreputable,  unprincipled 
w^omaii  attracted  Boswell,  who,  as  he  told  Johnson,  paid 
her  a  visit  in  prison,  "induced  by  the  fame  of  her 
talents."  He  took  down  her  conversation  and  drew  up 
a  regular  account  of  it,  which  he  showed  to  his  friends. 
Johnson  declared  that,  "  he  envied  him  his  acquaintance 
with  Mrs.  Rudd."  No  doubt  it  was  a  curious  and 
interesting  record :  and  the  writer  sent  it  to  his  friend 
Temple,  with  the  view  that  it  should  be  shown  to  his 
patron.     "You  know  my  curiosity  and  love  of  adven- 


222  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

ture  ;  I  have  got  acquainted  with  the  celebrated  Mrs. 
Rudd.     I  was  sending  an  account  of  this  to  my  wife, 
but,  as  it  appeared  to  me  highly  entertaining,  I  thought 
you  should  have  the  reading  of  it,  T  therefore  send  it. 
Pray  take  the  greatest  care  of  it,  and  return  it  to  me  by 
the  first  or  second  post.     You  may,  if  you  please,  give 
Lord  Lisburn  a  tasting  of  it."     His  friend,  however,  did 
not  appear  to  have  relished  it  much,  and  Mrs.  Boswell 
certainly  would  have  received  it  coldly.     He  was  eager 
now  to  have  it  back:    "Perhaps   the  adventure  with 
Mrs.  Rudd  is  very  foolish,  notwithstanding  Dr.  John- 
son's approbation ;  judge,  then,  if  you  should  mention 
it  to  Lord  L.     I  shall  be  impatient  till  I  get  back  Mrs. 
Rudd."    When  Johnson,  however,  declared  that  he  envied 
him  his  acquaintance  with  the  lady,  he  did  not  know  the 
sort  of  intimacy  that  Boswell  had  contracted  with  her. 
It  would  appear  that  he  had  travelled  with  her  to  Scot- 
land, and  gave  expression  to  his  feelings  in  a  song,  entitled 
"  Lurgan  Clanbrassil :  " — 

"  0  Lurgan  Clanbrassil,  how  sweet  is  thy  sound 

To  my  tender  remembrance,  as  Love's  sacred  ground ! 
For  there  Marg'ret  Caroline  first  charmed  my  sight, 
And  filled  my  youug  heart  Avith  a  flattering  delight. 

"  When  I  thought  her  my  own,  all  too  short  seemed  the  day 
For  a  jaunt  to  Downpatrick  or  a  trip  on  the  sea : 
To  express  what  I  felt  then,  all  language  were  vain ; 
'Twas  in  truth  what  the  poets  have  studied  to  feign. 

"  But,  too  late,  I  found  even  she  could  deceive, 
And  nothing  was  left  but  to  weep  and  to  rave ; 
Distracted  I  fled  from  my  dear  native  shore, 
Resolved  to  see  Lurgan  Clanbrassil  no  more. 

"  Yet  still,  in  some  moments  enchanted,  I  fiud 

A  ray  of  her  sweetness  beam  soft  on  my  mind  : 
While  thus  in  blest  fancy  my  angel  I  see, 

All  the  world  is  a  Lurgan  Clanbrassil  to  me."  * 

*  From  Mr.  Morrison's  collection  of  Autographs. 


*'  THE  HYPO  CHONDBIA  CK" —  0  TIIER  ECCENTRICITIES.    223 

In  his  great  cliroiiicle,  liowever,  Boswell  makes  no 
mention  of  this  incident.  On  another  occasion  he  saw 
fifteen  men  executed  !  All  this  shows  an  unhealthy 
desire  for  being  associated — even  at  the  expense  of 
propriety — with  whatever  was  engrossing  public  attention 
at  the  moment. 

A  very  curious  incident  was  connected  with  this 
odd  taste.  In  June,  1790,  an  old  servant  of  Mr, 
Thrale's  was  brought  to  trial  at  the  Old  Bailey,  and 
sentenced  to  be  executed.  Boswell  not  only  attended 
the  last  scene  himself,  but  persuaded  his  friend,  Sir 
Joshua,  to  go  with  him  ;  when  the  unhappy  man,  gaz- 
ing at  the  s]3ectators,  recognized  the  painter  as  one  of 
his  master's  guests,  and  made  him  a  low  bow.  This 
attendance  was  remarked  by  the  newspapers,  and  com- 
mented on  as  being  unbecoming  in  one  of  Sir  Joshua's 
character,  though,  it  was  added  rather  contemptuously, 
it  was  only  natural  in  one  of  Mr.  Boswell's  well-known 
tastes  and  oddities.  Mr.  Tom  Taylor,  in  whose  life  of 
Reynolds  we  find  this  passage,  thinks  a  letter  which  Sir 
Joshua  wrote  was  intended  as  a  sort  of  vindication  ;  but 
it  was  written  the  next  day,  and  extracted  from  him  by 
Boswell,  no  doubt  with  a  view  to  "  copy."  Reynolds, 
however,  proved  exceedingly  "stiff"  and  imyielding  in 
allowing  his  letters  to  be  published,  and  no  doubt 
refused  his  sanction  on  this  occasion.  "  I  am  obliged  to 
you,"  he  wrote,  "  for  carrying  me  yesterday  to  see  the 
execution,  at  Newgate,  of  the  five  malefactors.  I  am 
convinced  it  is  a  vulgar  error  in  the  opinion  that  it  is  so 
terrible  a  sj)ectacle,  or  that  it  in  any  way  implies  a 
hardness  of  heart  or  cruelty  of  disposition.  .  .  .  Such 
an  execution  as  we  saw,  where  there  was  no  torture  of 
the  body  or  expression  of  agony  of  the  mind,  but  where 
the  criminals,  on  the  contrary,  appeared  perfectly  com- 


224  LIFE   OF  JA2IES  BO  SWELL. 

posed,  without  the  least  trembling,  ready  to  speak  and 
answer  with  civility  and  attention  any  question  that  was 
proposed." 

It  must  be  said,  however,  that  whatever  eccentricities 
Boswell  displayed,  eccentricity  was  rife  enough  in  the 
legal  circles  of  Edinburgh.  His  friends.  Lords  Monboddo 
and  Karnes ;  his  father,  Lord  Auchinleck  ;  and  certain 
of  the  barristers  seem  to  have  cultivated  or  encouraged 
grotesque  exhibitions  of  character :  and  it  was  not 
surprising  that  Mr.  Boswell  followed  the  fashion. 
Among  his  friends  was  another  judge.  Lord  Covington, 
(Lockhart  in  a  private  station),  who,  in  the  '45,  was 
celebrated  for  having  "got  off"  some  of  the  accused 
at  Carlisle  by  a  highly  ingenious  device.'" 

In  1782,  Lord  Covington,  who  had  been  sixty  years 
at  the  Bar,  was  lying  on  his  death-bed,  when  his  eccen- 
tric and  disorderly  life  gave  him  some  compunctious 
troublings.  Mr.  Ramsay  relates  a  story  of  Bos  well's- 
behaviour  on  this  occasion,  w^hicli  is  highly  significant 
of  the  flighty  melange  of  good  and  evil  which  made  up 
our  hero's  character.  "  While  in  a  state  of  depression," 
he  says,  "  James  Boswell,  who  in  those  days  hovered 
like  a  vulture  round  the  dying  judge  in  quest  of  anec- 
dotes, called  one  day  and  found  him  reading  the  Bible. 
'  My  Lord,'  said  he,  '  you  are  exceedingly  well  em- 
ployed.' He  answered,  '  Boswell,  I  have  sold  all  my 
books  but  this,  which  contains  a  rich  heaven  of  in- 
struction and  consolation.  AVhen  I  look  back  upon  my 
past  life,  it  appears  a  guilty  dream  ! '      To  divert  the 

*  Finding  that  the  Carlisle  juries  were  determined  on  convict- 
ing the  rebels  in  summary  style,  lie  dressed  up  his  servant  in 
Highland  costume,  and  sent  liim  out  to  lurk  in  the  by-Avays,  as 
though  he  were  in  hiding,  with  a  view  of  his  being  arrested.  It 
was,  of  course,  proved  that  he  had  no  share  in  the  rising,  and  the- 
mistake  was  used  to  gain  the  acquittal  of  the  other  prisoners. 


"THE  nVPOCnONDRIACK" — OTHER  ECCENTRICITIES.   225 

topic,  Boswell  siu/r/ested  cards.  Not  content  witli  tliis 
tliougbtless  act,  Mr.  Boswell  went  round,  describing 
the  scene  to  his  friends.  He  was  diniui^  with  Mr. 
Dundas  the  next  day,  when  his  host  seized  the  bottle, 
ixnd,  with  an  oath,  exclaimed,  '  Mij  life  shan't  pass  away- 
like  a  dream  ! '"  A  curious,  though  unedifying,  picture 
of  the  manners  of  the  time. 

Mr.  Croker,  in  the  recently  published  "  papers," 
speaks  as  though  he  knew  that  the  cause  of  Bos  well's 
oddities  was  in  some  way  connected  with  mental  in- 
firmity, and  declares  that  delicacy  for  the  fomily  pre- 
vented further  revelations.  This  view,  indeed,  may 
be  well  founded  ;  and  this  natural  tendency  would  be 
fortified  or  increased  by  habits  of  intoxication.  It  would 
seem  that  it  w^as  to  a  suggestion  of  Sir  Walter  Scott's 
that  Mr.  Croker  owed  this  theory  of  insanity.  Scott  also 
heard  that  one  of  the  reasons  for  Bos  well's  numerous 
visits  to  Newgate  and  other  j^risons,  was  to  make  the 
unhappy  prisoners  under  sentence  "  laugh  by  his  buf- 
foonery, in  which  he  often  succeeded."  The  "variations 
of  spirits,"  the  "  black  dog,"  in  short — a  theme  with 
which  he  wearied  his  great  friend — was  owing,  as  so 
many  have  found  it,  to  a  disordered  liver,  which  itself 
is  produced  by  drinking, — Ic  vin  triste,  in  the  phrase 
so  happily  used  by  the  French. 

"  Possessed  of  considerable  talent,  industry,  and 
observation,"  says  Sir  J.  Prior,  "  he  yet  conveys  no  im- 
pression of  enjoying  an  enlarged  and  vigorous  under- 
standing. His  peculiarities  are  often  contradictory.  We 
are  in  doubt  whether  sense  or  folly,  simplicity  or  cun- 
ning, a  degree  of  pride  sometimes  amusing,  or  a  spirit 
■of  adulation  almost  servile,  predominate  in  the  picture 
he  has  left  of  himself.  If  we  find  in  him  occasional 
selfishness,    there  is   likewise  a   devotion   towards   the 

VOL.  I.  Q 


226  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

great  man  whom  he  worshipped  approaching  to  gene- 
rosity— a  determination,  never  thought  derogatory,  to 
submit  to  rebuffs  and  caustic  repulsiveness  with  a 
patience  more  than  philosophical.  Mingled  with  this 
there  was  much  of  real  kindness  in  trying  to  cheer  the 
solitary  hours  of  his  friend.  From  these  proofs  of 
attachment  and  kindness,  if  we  cannot  altogether  respect 
Boswell,  it  is  difficult  to  dislike  him.  He  was  good- 
humoured,  free  from  malignity,  and,  excepting  when 
some  jealousy  or  prejudice  interfered,  seldom  unjust  to 
one  of  whom  he  had  occasion  to  speak.*  His  social 
propensities  were  well  known.  Want  of  candour  is 
rarely  among  his  defects.  On  the  contrary,  he  opens 
his  mind  so  freely  that  we  discover  much  of  what  is 
passing  there,  even  when  the  disclosure  is  not  meant."  f 
The  genuine  enjoyment,  or  "  gust,"  with  which  he 
recorded  the  scenes  in  which  he  appeared  truly  ridi- 
culous, has  often  excited  wonder  and  contempt.  But  this 
plea  could  be  offered  :  he  w^as  so  enthusiastically  devoted 
to  his  work,  that  it  was  painful  to  him  to  sacrifice  any 
portion,  and  such  scenes  were  among  the  most  dra- 
matic. It  is  not  every  one  that  can  use  their  surgical 
knife  and  cut  away  the  '' '^QO.i^dint  parts."  His  great 
friend  displayed  himself  on  such  occasions  with  more 
than  usual  vigour  and  vivacity.  Still,  what  an  amount 
must  have  gone  by  the  board  ! 

*  Mr.  Macfarlane,  the  small-debts  judge,  declared  that  it  wa» 
impossible  to  look  on  his  face  for  a  moment  without  being  moved 
by  its  irresistible  comicality  and  grotesqueness. 

t  At  the  close  of  this  work,  I  have  made  an  attempt  to  deal 
with  this  new  and  interesting  view  of  Boswellian  psychology. 
This  inquiry,  which  I  am  certain  will  later  be  made  scientific- 
ally, will  furnish  a  very  curious  contribution  to  the  study  of 
character.  It  will  be  found  that  Boswell,  while  affecting  to  make 
general  remarks  and  speculations,  was  unconsciously  revealing  the 
secrets  of  his  own  character. 


"THE  IIYPOGTIONDRIACK" — OTHER  ECCENTRICITIES.    227 

As  wc  are  on  this  curious  p<??ic/ia?i^  of  Ins  for  odd 
people,  it  may  be  mentioned  that,  in  1779,  Boswell  met 
in  London  that  strange,  erratic  prehite,  the  Bishop  of 
Derr}^,  Earl  of  Bristol.  A  dozen  years  before,  this 
prelate  and  a  companion  had  travelled  through  Corsica 
almost  in  Boswell's  footsteps,  stimulated  by  his  ex- 
ample. When  they  now  met,  they  had  a  discussion 
on  the  absorbing  topic  of  the  American  war,  which  led 
to  further  argument  on  the  Irish  question  of  the 
"  Union."  With  a  view  to  illustrate  in  some  way 
the  point,  the  bishop  had  written  to  Boswell,  asking 
for  statistics  as  to  the  increase  of  houses  in  Edinburgh 
since  the  Union.  Boswell  replied  to  him  in  an  almost 
vehement  strain,  such  as  would  gratify  the  most  ardent 
Nationalist  of  our  time. 


Boswell  to  the  Bishop  of  Derrij. 

"  Edinbui^gli,  December  15,1779. 

"My  Lord, — I  am  afraid  your  Lordship  and  I 
differ  as  much  in  Irish  politics  as  I  found,  from  your 
Lordship's  conversation  in  London  last  autumn,  we 
differ  in  American  politics.  As  I  never  could  believe 
that  a  majority  of  our  fellow  subjects  on  the  other  side 
of  the  Atlantic  would  choose  to  leave  their  property  at 
the  mercy  of  the  representatives  of  the  King's  subjects  in 
this  island,  neither  can  I  believe  that  all  Ireland,  Dublin 
excepted,  would  be  for  a  union  with  Great  Britain. 
When  I  was  in  Ireland  ten  years  ago,  a  very  sensible 
man,  addressing  himself  to  me  as  a  Scotchman,  said, 
'  We  are  bad  enough  in  this  country,  but,  thank  God, 
we  are  not  so  bad  as  you  are.  We  have  still  our  own 
Parliament.'  The  noble  exertions  of  the  Irish  this  winter 
sufficiently  confirms  this  remark.    At  any  rate,  my  Lord, 


228  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

I  cannot  liclp  being  clearly  of  opinion  that  the  capital 
of  Ireland  would  suffer  sadly  by  an  union.  Whether 
Scotland  has  been  benefited  by  our  union  with  England 
is  to  me  a  problematical  question  depending  upon  a 
variety  of  enquiries  and  probabilities.  As  Sir  George 
Saville  said,  when  AVedderburn  boasted  of  what  he 
had  gained  by  his  return  to  the  court  party :  '  This 
house  knows  what  he  has  lost.'  Scotland,  we  know, 
has  lost  her  spirit — I  may  say  her  existence,  for  she 
is  absorbed  in  her  great  and  rich  sister  kingdom.  But 
sure  I  am,  that  Edinburgh  has  been  grievously  nipped 
in  its  growth  by  depriving  us  of  our  Parliament,  and 
all  its  concomitant  fostering  influence,  and  we  are  now 
placed 

"  '  Far  from  the  sun  and  summer  gale.'  " 

Then,  turning  to  the  statistics  which  he  had  been 
asked  for,  he  admits  that  there  had  been  a  good  many 
new-built  houses  in  Edinburgh.  "  To  ascribe  to  the 
union  such  improvements  as  would  have  happened 
without  it,  is  an  enthusiasm  no  better  founded  than 
that  of  a  worthy  old  lady,  a  Jacobite  aunt  of  mine,  w^ho 
said,  '  There  had  been  no  black  cock  in  Annandale  since 
the  Revolution.' 

"  Let  us,  my  Lord,  be  satisfied  to  live  on  good 
and  equal  terms  with  our  Sovereign's  peojDle  of  Ire- 
land, as  we  might  have  done  with  our  Sovereign's 
people  of  America,  had  they  been  allowed  to  enjoy 
their  parliaments  or  assemblies,  as  Ireland  enjoys  hers  ; 
and,  instead  of  calling  the  Irish  '  a  deluded  peoj^le,' 
and  attempting  to  grasp  them  in  our  paws,  let  us  ad- 
mire their  spirit.  A  Scotchman  might  preach  on  union 
to  them,  as  a  fox  who  has  lost  his  tail.  But  your  Lord- 
ship   is    an    Englishman,    and  brother    to    the  Earl  of 


"  THE  HYPO CIIONDBIA CK'' —  0 TIIEli  ECCENTRICITIES.    229 

]^>ristol.     I  have  the  honour  to  be,  your  Lordship's  most 
obedieut,  humble  servant,  James  Boswell." 

This  rather  tart  and  scarcely  respectful  answer  to 
his  question  could  scarcely  have  pleased  the  bishop. 
The  Herveys,  as  is  well  known,  were  strange  people, 
l)ut  the  episcopal  member  of  the  family  exceeded  the 
rest  in  oddity. 

This  truly  eccentric  personage  must  have  "increased 
the  harmless  gaiety "  of  his  time.  But  this  genera- 
tion has  little  idea  of  his  extravagance — strangely 
enough  accepted  without  protest  by  his  countrymen : 
"  He  had  been  obliged,"  says  Mr.  Pryce  Gordon, 
"to  quit  Paris  by  the  French  revolution,  and  took  an 
asylum  in  Tuscany,  occasionally  visiting  Rome  and 
Naples,  and  astonishing  all  ranks  by  his  freaks  and 
eccentricities.  In  one  of  his  journeys  from  Rome  to 
Florence  he  halted  at  Sienna,  and  when  sitting  down 
to  dinner,  a  religious  procession  happened  to  pass  under 
the  windows  of  his  hotel.  It  would  appear  that  his 
lordship  had  a  jDarticular  aversion  to  the  tinkling  of 
bells.  Probably  without  thinking  of  the  consequences, 
he  seized  a  tureen  of  pf^ista,  and  the  sash  being  open, 
threw  the  contents  in  the  midst  of  the  group.  Such 
a  sacrilegious  profanation  of  the  most  sacred  of  cere- 
monies, 1  need  hardly  observe,  occasioned  the  greatest 
dismay  among  the  priests  and  their  assistants,  as  w^ell 
as  the  spectators,  who  assailed  the  house  en  masse, 
determined  to  wreak  their  vengeance  on  the  perpetrators 
of  so  monstrous  an  outrage.  The  bishop,  however,  had 
,  fortunately  made  his  escape  by  a  back  way  along  with 
his  valet,  and  by  an  ample  distribution  of  his  gold, 
found  the  means  of  concealing  himself  until  night,  and 
of   jJi'ocuring   post-horses   to    transport   him    from  the 


830  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

Tuscan  territory,  never  stopping  nntil  he  readied 
Padua,  at  that  time  garrisoned  by  French  troops.  The 
Grand  Duke  issued  an  edict,  '  banishing  the  perpetrator 
from  the  Tuscan  dominions  for  ever,  under  pain  of  the 
galleys.'  .  .  .  He  had  not  been  many  days  settled  in  the 
Cisalpine  republic,  when  he  despatched  a  letter  to  Mr. 

W m,  beseeching  him  to  interfere  in  his  behalf  with 

the  Grand  Duke,  and  stating  '  that  the  aggression  he 
Was   charged   with    was   purely  accidental,    not   being 
^ware,  when  he  threw  the  dish  of  horrible  iKista  out  of 
the  window,  that  the  procession  was  passing.'  .  .  .  He 
commented  on  the  state  of  things  and  the  imbecility  of 
the   government,    indulging    in   his    naturally    satirical 
humour.       This    barefaced    impudence   of    a    '  maudit 
2^vetre  Anglais,'  who  had  taken  refuge  in  an  enemy's 
country,  '  after  escaping  from  the  galleys  in  another,' 
raised  the  indignation  of  the  French  commandant,  who 
gave   orders  for   the    arrest    of  the  hoary  culprit,    de- 
nounced him  as  a  spy,  and  threatened  him  with  the 
guillotine.   .  .  .  But,  as  the  bishop  was  well  known  to  be 
rich,  the  governor  contented  himself  in  the  mean  time 
with    placing    his   prisoner   under   surveillance   at   his 
hotel,   making   him   pay  an   amende    of  five   thousand 
francs  for  the  good  of  the  state,  and  directing  him  to 
furnish  daily  a  dinner  of  six  covers  for  the  maintenance 
of  a  guard  which  was  placed  over  him,  and  a  sentinel 
posted  at  his  door.     This  strict  durance  continued  for 
several  months,  during  Avhich   his  reverence  lived  like 
a  prince,  and  had  the  honour  of  entertaining  very  fre- 
quently  the    commandant  and  other   officers   of  rank. 
His  finances,  however,  began  to  dwindle,  and  he  saw 
no  end  to  his  confinement.     In  this  dilemma  he  began 
to  entertain  hopes  of  his  release  by  the  never-failing 
means  of  a  golden  key,  and  marked  the  officer  who  had 


"  THE  n  YPO  CIlONDIilA  CK  " —  0  TIIER  ECCENTRICITIES.    231 

charge  of  liis  person  as  a  fit  instrument.  Accordingly, 
he  soon  found  an  opportunity  of  a  private  audience 
with  this  Cerberus,  when  he  proffered  a  reward  of  five 
hundred  louis  by  a  draft  on  his  banker  at  Paris, 
on  condition  that  he  would  procure  his  enlargement, 
besides  paying  all  the  expenses  of  his  transport  to  Trieste. 
Without  waiting  for  a  reply  to  these  proposals,  he 
pulled  out  a  purse  containing  fifty  sequins,  and  put  it 
into  tlic!  hands  of  his  caro  amico.  It  is  not  to  be 
supposed  that  a  wretched  Italian  subaltern  could  refuse 
such  a  bribe."     So  he  escaped. 

Unluckily  the  ill  feeling  between  Boswell  and  his 
father  was  now  to  be  more  inflamed  by  angry  discussions 
on  the  point  of  family  settlement,  before  alluded  to,  in 
which  Boswell  was  foolishly  opposed  to  his  father's 
wishes.  The  worthy  old  judge  was  anxious  to  resettle 
his  estate,  and  to  entail  it  so  that  it  should  descend  to 
heirs  general,  both  male  and  female,  which  was  accord- 
ing to  the  usual  practice  of  his  country.  But  the  son 
was  seized  with  fantastic  scruples  ;  he  had  a  fancy  for 
excluding  the  females  to  a  certain  extent ;  it  pressed 
on  his  conscience.  Accordingly  he  set  on  foot  a  vehe- 
ment opposition ;  wearied  all  his  friends  and  corre- 
spondents with  his  doubts.  After  all,  it  would  seem 
that  he  had  no  power  to  interfere,  having,  as  he  says, 
"in  a  moment  of  phrenzy  parted  with  his  rights"  to 
his  father.  Dr.  Johnson,  Lord  Hailes,  and  others  were 
iippealed  to,  and  gave  excellent  advice ;  but,  for  a  long 
time,  Mr.  Boswell  was  obstinate,  taking  a  sort  of  pride 
in  this  obstruction.  "  It  was  assuredly,"  says  Mr. 
Eamsay,  "one  of  the  cruellest  mortifications  he  could 
have  met  with  in  the  evening  of  his  life,  to  see  his  son 
entirely  under  the  influence  of  a  Tory  and  a  high 
•Churchman,  who,    to  use   his   own  phrase   on  another 


232  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 


occasion,   Avas    'as   narrow  as   tlie    neck   of  a  vinegar 
cruet.' " 

In  this  discussion,  wliicli  lie  records  at  length, 
Boswell  kept  out  of  his  reader's  sight  what  was  his 
father's  chief  object,  and  what  may  have  been  the 
foundation  of  his  own  opposition,  and  this  was  his 
resolve  to  jDlace  the  estate  beyond  the  power  of  his 
spendthrift  heir  to  waste,  or  part  with.  It  is  a  most 
characteristic  document.*     At  last  Boswell  prudently 

*  A  larofe  portion  is  quoted  by  Dr.  Eogers,  in  his  "  Memoir," 
p.  107:— "'I  ALEXANDER  BOSWEL  of  Aucliinleck  Esquire 
one  of  the  Senators  of  the  College  of  Justice  considering  that 
having  long  intended  to  make  a  full  settlement  of  my  estate,  but 
which  I  have  put  off  a  long  time,  not  having  fallen  upon  a  plan 
which  gave  me  satisfaction,  notwithstanding  I  have  seen  a  multi- 
plicity of  settlements,  I  am  now  come  to  the  resolution  to  execute 
what  follows,  which  though  it  appears  to  me  better  calculated  to 
answer  the  ends  of  a  family  settlement,  and  to  be  more  free  from 
objections  than  others  I  have  seen,  I  am  conscious  is  not  exempt 
from  faults,  for  I  see  them.  But  when  one  is  providing  for 
futurity  it  is  impossible  to  obviate  all  inconveniences.  I  have, 
however,  chose  this  form  as  appearing  to  me  subject  to  the  fewest.. 
The  Settlement  I  am  to  make  is  a  Taillie  or  Deed  of  Entail  in- 
tended to  be  perpetual,  which  notwithstanding  the  prejudices  of 
the  ignorant  and  dissipated  part  of  mankind  to  the  contrary  I  have 
always  approved  of,  if  properly  devised.  My  motive  to  it  is  not 
the  preservation  of  my  name  and  memory,  for  I  know  that  after 
death  our  places  here  know  us  no  more.  But  my  motives  are  that 
the  strength  of  the  happy  constitution  with  which  this  kingdom  is- 
blest,  depends  in  a  great  measure  upon  there  being  kept  up  a 
proper  number  of  Gentlemen's  families  of  independent  fortunes. 
It  was  this  which  at  first  introduced  the  right  of  primogeniture 
amongst  us,  a  right  well  adapted  to  the  good  of  the  younger  as 
well  as  the  eldest,  as  it  prevents  estates  crumbling  down  by 
division  into  morsels.  It  enables  the  several  successive  heirs  tO' 
educate  their  whole  children  properly,  and  thereby  fit  them  for 
different  employments,  so  that  these  families  are  useful  nurseries. 
On  the  other  hand  a  danger  arises  from  an  accumulation  of  dif- 
ferent estates  into  the  hands  of  overgrown  rich  men.  Again  the 
estate  which  I  have,  though  not  great,  is  sufficient  for  answer- 
ing all  the  reasonable  expenses  of  a  gentleman's  family  and  is 
situate  in  an  agreeable  country  with  the  people  of  which  I  and 
my  worthy  predecessors  have  had  the  happiness  to  live  in  great 
friendship,  which  I  hojie  shall  always  be  the  case  with  those  that 


"  THE  HYPO CIIONDRIA  CK  " — 0 TIIER  ECCENTRICITIES.    233 

determined  to  yield,  ;ind  the  settlement  was  happily 
executed. 

succeed  me  ;  and  the  place  of  residence  has  many  uncommon  beau- 
ties and  conveniences,  which  several  considerations  would  make 
any  wise  man  careful  to  preserve  such  an  estate.  But  as  an  heir 
may  happen  to  get  it  who  by  weakness  or  extravagance  would  soon 
put  an  end  to  it,  I  cannot  think  any  wise  man  will  condemn  me  if 
while  I  allow  the  heirs  of  Taillie  every  power  which  a  man  of 
judgment  would  wish  to  exercise,  I  restrain  them  only  from  acting 
foolishly.  If  a  person  saw  his  next  heir  a  weak  foolish  and  extra- 
\'agant  person  he  would  justly  be  censured  if  in  place  of  giving 
his  estate  to  his  other  children,  or  bestowing  it  upon  some  woi'thy 
friend  who  would  make  a  proper  use  of  it,  he  let  it  drop  into  the 
hands  of  a  person  who  had  nothing  to  recommend  him  but  the 
legal  character  of  an  heir  who  directly  on  his  succession  would  let 
it  fly.  I  say  he  would  justly  be  censured  for  this  unless  he  laid 
that  unhappy  heir  under  proper  restraints.  And  if  this  would  be 
an  advisable  precaution  to  follow  wdaere  the  person  is  seen,  it  must 
be  equally  so  whenever  an  heir  happens  to  exist  of  that  unhappy 
disposition  at  any  period  however  remote,  for  no  time  can  come 
when  any  reasonable  man  can  think  it  w^ould  be  beneficial  to  allow 
a  person  to  act  foolishly,  do  therefore  hereby, — with  the  special 
advice  and  consent  of  James  Boswell,  Esqiiire,  Advocate,  younger 
of  Auchinleck  my  eldest  son,  and  under  these  impressions  and  in 
the  hope  and  belief  that  I  have  fallen  on  a  method  of  preventing- 
children  from  being  independent  of  their  parents  and  of  securing 
a  proper  provision  for  3'ounger  children,  not  only  at  first,  Avhich  is 
all  that  is  commonly  done,  but  in  all  future  times,  the  want  of 
which  appeared  to  me  the  most  solid  objection  to  Taillies — give, 
grant,  and  dispose  heretably  and  Irredeemably  to  myself  and  the 
heirs  male  procreated  and  to  be  procreated  of  my  body  whom 
failing  the  lands  of  Auchinleck  to  Dr.  John  Boswell  physician  in 
Edinburgh  my  brother  german  and  the  heirs  male  lawfully  pro- 
created or  to  be  procreated  of  liis  body,  whom  failing  to  Claude 
Boswell  of  Balmuto  Esquire  advocate,  only  son  of  the  deceast  John 
Boswell  of  Balmuto  who  was  the  only  brother  of  the  deceast  Mr. 
James  Boswell  of  Auchinleck  advocate  my  father  and  the  heirs 
male  lawfully  procreated  or  to  be  procreated  of  the  body  of  the 
said  Claude  Boswell,  whom  failing  to  the  heirs  whatsoever  lawfully 
procreated  or  to  be  procreated  of  my  body  whom  failing,  to  my 
own  nearest  heirs  whatsoever  descended  of  the  body  of  Thomas 
Boswell  of  Auchinleck  my  predecessor,  whom  all  failing  to  my 
own  nearest  heirs  and  assignies  whatsoever — the  eldest  heir  female 
and  the  descendants  of  her  body  always  excluding  heirs  portioners 
and  succeeding  still  without  division,  throughout  the  whole  course 
of  succession  of  heirs  whatsoever  as  well  as  heirs  of  provision.' 


234  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

He  was  enabled  to  announce,  towards  the  end  of  tlie 
year,  that  he  was  on  the  best  terms  with  Lord  Auchin- 
leck,  who,  he  adds  naively  enough,  had  paid  a  very 
large  debt  for  him.  He  had  now  another  son  born, 
David,  "  a  sickly  infant,"  but  who  died  in  the  April  of 
the  following  year,  1777.  The  good  Johnson  was  glad 
to  hear  of  the  birth,  and  unwearied  in  giving  him  kind 
and  sensible  advice. 

"  I  am  much  pleased  to  hear  of  the  re-establishment 
of  kindness  between  you  and  your  father.  Cultivate 
his  paternal  tenderness  as  much  as  you  can.  To  live  at 
variance  at  all  is  uncomfortable,  and  variance  with  a 
father  is  still  more  uncomfortable.     Besides  that,  in  the 


ti 


After  excluding  from  the  succession,"  goes  on  Dr.  Rogers, 
"  all  fatuous  persons,  and  regulating  annuities  for  female  and 
younger  children,  Lord  Auchinleck  proceeds  to  guard  against  the 
extinction  of  the  family  name. 

" '  It  is  hereby,'  he  adds,  '  specially  provided  and  declared 
That  in  case  any  of  the  heirs  male  of  my  body  who  shall  succeed 
to  my  said  lands  and  estate  shall  also  succeed  to  a  peerage  or  to 
any  other  estate  entailed  under  such  conditions  as  may  restrain 
the  heir  from  carrying  my  name  and  arms  then  and  in  every  such 
case  the  person  so  succeeding  to  the  said  peerage  or  other  such 
entailed  estate  when  he  is  possessed  of  my  said  estate  or  succeed- 
ing to  my  estate  when  having  right  to  such  peerage  or  possessed 
of  such  other  entailed  estate  shall  forfeit  all  right  and  title  to  my 
said  lands  and  estate  and  that  not  only  for  himself  but  also  for  his 
apparent  heir  and  for  all  the  apparent  heirs  of  such  an  apparent 
heir  in  a  direct  line  downwards  whether  in  a  nearer  or  remoter 
degree  and  my  said  estate  shall  devolve  and  belong  to  the  next 
heir  of  Taillie  though  descending  of  the  body  of  the  person  excluded 
or  of  his  apparent  heir  in  the  same  manner  as  if  the  person 
excluded  and  all  the  apparent  heirs  in  the  said  peerage  were 
naturally  dead.'  " 

This  seems  an  extraordinary  legal  document.  The  old  judge 
sketches  his  spendthrift  son,  and  candidly  declares  that  he  has 
taken  all  the  precautions  he  can  against  the  result  of  his  extra- 
vagance. We  are  hardly  surprised  to  find  that  these  strokes  at 
his  son  caused  the  judge  to  overlook  the  legal,  binding  force  of  the 
provisions  ;  and  that,  long' after,  the  act  was  set  aside  by  the  courts 
as  void,  owing  to  some  formality  being  overlooked. 


"THE  IIYFOCnONDRIACK" — OTHER  ECCENTRICITIES.    235 

whole  tlisputc  you  liave  the  wrong  side ;  at  least,  you 
gave   the   first   provocations,   and  some  of  them  very 
offensive.     Let  it  now  be  all  over.     As  you   have  no 
reason  to  think  that  your  new  mother  has  shown  you 
any  foul   play,  treat  her  with  respect,  and  with  some 
degree    of   confidence ;     this    will    secure   your   father. 
AVhen  once  a  discordant  family  has  felt  the  pleasure 
of  peace,   they  will  not  willingly  lose  it."     Presently, 
we  find  him  announcing  that  he  is  going  to  stay  with 
his  father  for  a  fortnight.     "  It  is  better  not  to  be  there 
very   long   at   one   time,"    he    adds.       "  But    frequent 
renewals  of  attentions  are  agreeable  to  him."     Boswell 
was  partial  to  little  devices  of  this  kind.     He  had  now 
a  family  of  three  children — Alexander,  Veronica,  and 
Euphemia.     In  July  he  took  his  uncle,  Dr.   Boswell's 
house — a  villa  with  a  garden,  close  to  Edinburgh — for 
change  of  air.     As  his  wife's  health  w^as  beginning  to 
mend,  he  soon  became  restless  again.     He  had  deter- 
mined to  deny  himself  London,  but  he  must  make  some 
sort  of  expedition  with  his  friend.     He  would  like  to 
see   the    cathedral    at   Carlisle.      A   greater   and   more 
astonishing  scheme  was   actually  present  to  the  mind 
of  the  intrepid  old  sage — now  sixty-eight — viz.  of  going 
up  the  Baltic,  but  Boswell   hung   back,  no  doubt  on 
account  of  the  expense.     He  later  regretted  it,  for  he 
thought  bitterly  of  how  they  might  have  been  presented 
to  the  Empress  Catherine,  to  the  King  of  Sweden,  and 
other    personages.       Here    Mr.     Boswell    would    have 
figured  conspicuously.     "  This  reflection  may  be  thought 
too  visionary  by  the  more  sedate  and  cold-blooded  of 
my  readers  ;  but  I  own  I  frequently  indulge  it  with  an 
earnest  unavailino;  reo^ret." 

In  1777,  Johnson  w\as  going  on  a  less  pretentious 
excursion  to  his  friend,  Dr.  Taylor,  at  Ashbourne,  who, 


23G  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

at  bis  request,  also  invited  down  Boswell.  He  arrived 
on  September  14,  1777,  wbeu  tbey  spent  an  agreeable 
time.  Tbey  made  various  "jaunts"  to  Derby,  to 
Keddlestone,  Lord  Scarsdale's  seat,  and  otber  places 
of  interest.  On  tbis  occasion  tlie  amiable  Boswell 
exerted  bimself  to  please,  witb  more  tban  bis  usual 
success,  and,  tbougli  be  occasionally  broke  out  into 
some  absurd  extravagance,  Jobnson  was  really  grateful 
to  bim.  Yet  poor  Boswell,  after  all  bis  exertions,  would 
bardly  bave  relisbed  tbe  account  wbicb  bis  friend  wrote 
of  bim  to  Mrs.  Tbrale :  "  Boswell  bas  spent  more 
money  tban  be  expected,  and  I  must  supply  bim  witb 
part  of  bis  expenses  bome.  .  .  .  Boswell  is  gone  (from 
Asbbourne),  and  is,  I  bope,  pleased  tbat  be  bas  been 
bere :  tbougb  to  look  on  anytbing  witb  pleasure  is  not 
very  common.  He  bas  been  gay  and  good-bumoured 
in  bis  usual  way."  It  was  mortifying  enougb  to  be 
sbown  as  tbus  borrowing  from  bis  friend,  wlio,  baving 
no  money,  bad  to  borrow  for  Boswell  from  tbe  Tbrales. 
But  wbat  must  be  bave  said  wlien  be  read  in  print  tbe 
contemptuous  pbrase  witb  wbicb  tbe  letter  concludes, 
"  'Tis  a  'pity  lie  lias  not  a  hetter  bottom"?  Still  more 
extraordinary  is  it  to  find  tbat  Boswell  borrowed  tbis 
uncomplimentary  description  of  bimself  from  tbe  work 
of  bis  enemy,  Mrs.  Piozzi,  and  gave  it  a  place  in  bis 
own  book  1 


(     237 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

IX    ATTENDANCE    ON   JOHNSON. 

1778. 

As  Mrs.  BoswelFs  liealtli  was  failing,  Johnson  gave  lier 
husband  the  good  advice  to  be  kind  to  her,  and  bring 
her  up  to  London  for  a  change.  He  even  offered  to 
give  her  his  own  rooms ;  though  it  may  be  imagined 
the  poor  Lady  woukl  not  have  been  very  comfortable 
in  Johnson's  strange  menagerie.  Boswell,  however, 
put  the  proposal  aside  lightly  :  "  My  wife,  who  is,  I 
thank  God,  a  deal  better,  is  much  obliged  to  you  for 
your  very  polite  and  courteous  ofter  of  your  apartment ; 
but,  if  she  goes  to  London,  it  will  be  best  for  her  to 
have  lodgings  in  the  more  airy  vicinity  of  Hyde  Park. 
I,  however,  doubt  much  if  I  shall  be  able  to  prevail  with 
her  to  accompany  me  to  the  metropolis  ;  for  she  is  so 
different  from  you  and  me,  tliat  she  dislikes  travelling, 
and  she  is  so  anxious  about  her  children,  that  she  thinks 
she  should  be  unhappy  if  at  a  distance  from  them.  She 
therefore  wishes  rather  to  go  to  some  country  place  in 
Scotland,  where  she  can  have  the  children  with  her.  I 
purpose  being  in  London  about  the  20th  of  next  month, 
as  I  think  it  creditable  to  appear  in  the  House  of  Lords 
as  one  of  Douglas's  counsel,  in  the  great  and  last  com- 
petition between  the  Duke  of  Hamilton  and  him."     On 


238  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

March  18,  1778,  he  arrived  in  town,  but  found  his 
friend  out  at  Streatham,  staying  with  the  Thrales.  It 
was  as  extraordinary  as  unbecoming,  the  dislilsze  that 
Boswell  always  displayed  to  these  hospitable  people. 
They  had  already  shown  him  much  attention  at  Bath, 
and  now  invited  him  to  stay  with  them, — yet  at  dinner, 
on  the  first  day,  he  could  thus  discourteously  correct  the 
lady  of  the  house.  She  spoke  of  "  '  The  story  told  you 
by  the  old  ivomcm.' — 'Now,  Madam,'  said  I,  'give  me 
leave  to  catch  you  in  the  fact :  it  was  not  an  old  ivoman, 
but  an  old  man,  whom  I  mentioned  as  having  told  me 
this.'  I  presumed  to  take  an  opportunity,  in  presence 
of  Johnson,  of  shewing  this  lively  lady  liow  ready  she 
was,  unintentionally,  to  deviate  from  exact  authenticity 
of  narration."  The  same  tone  was  maintained  through 
the  visit,  Boswell  being  no  doubt  encouraged  by  John- 
son's half-jocose  rebukes  to  the  "airy  lady"  for  her 
exaggerations,  and  good  spirits.  Johnson,  however,  was 
an  old  friend,  and  a  privileged  person.  Long  after, 
when  publishing  his  report  of  the  conversation,  and 
speaking  of  Johnson's  denunciation  of  the  lady's  ex- 
aggerations, Boswell  added  rather  grossly,  "Had  he 
lived  to  read  what  Mrs.  Piozzi  and  Sir  John  Hawkins 
have  related  concerning  himself,  how  much  would  he 
have  found  his  observation  illustrated ! " 

Miss  Burney  gives  a  singular  sketch  of  our  hero  at 
Streatham,  which  proves  with  what  indifference  to 
comment  or  ridicule  he  w\as  prosecuting  his  office  of 
reporter.  After  noting  that  his  Quixotic  pursuit  of 
General  Paoli,  joined  to  the  tour  to  the  Hebrides  with 
Dr.  Johnson,  made  him  an  object  of  considerable  atten- 
tion, she  describes  his  appearance  and  manners  :  "  He 
spoke  the  Scotch  accent  strongly,  though  by  no  means 
so   as  to   affect,  even  slightly,  his  intelligibility  to  an 


IN  ATTENDANCE    ON  JOHNSON.  239 

English  car.  lie  liad  an  odd  mock  solemnity  of  tone 
and  manner,  that  he  had  acquired  imperceptibly  from 
constantly  tliinking  of  and  imitating  Dr.  Johnson ; 
whose  own  solemnity,  nevertheless,  far  from  mock,  was 
the  result  of  pensive  rumination.  There  was,  also, 
something  slouching  in  the  gait  and  dress  of  Mr.  Bos- 
well,  that  wore  an  air,  ridiculously  enough,  of  purport- 
ing to  personify  the  same  model.  His  clothes  were 
always  too  large  for  him  ;  his  hair,  or  wig,  was  con- 
stantly in  a  state  of  negligence  ;  and  he  never  for  a 
moment  sat  still  or  upright  upon  a  chair.  Every  look 
and  movement  displayed  either  intentional  or  involun- 
tary imitation.  Yet  certainly  it  was  not  meant  as 
caricature ;  for  his  heart,  almost  even  to  idolatry,  was 
in  his  reverence  of  Dr.  Johnson. 

"  Dr.  Burney  was  often  surprised  that  this  kind  of 
farcical  similitude  escaped  the  notice  of  the  Doctor,  but 
attributed  his  missing  it  to  a  high  superiority  over  any 
such  suspicion,  as  much  as  to  his  near-sightedness ;  for 
fully  was  Dr.  Burney  persuaded,  that  had  any  detection 
of  such  imitation  taken  place.  Dr.  Johnson,  who  gene- 
rally treated  Mr.  Boswell  as  a  school  boy,  whom,  without 
the  smallest  ceremony,  he  pardoned  or  rebuked,  alter- 
nately, would  so  indignantly  have  been  provoked,  as  to 
have  instantaneously  inflicted  upon  him  some  mark  of 
his  displeasure.  And  equally  he  was  persuaded  that 
Mr.  Boswell,  how^ever  shocked  and  even  inflamed  in 
receiving  it,  would  soon,  from  his  deep  veneration, 
have  thought  it  justly  incurred ;  and,  after  a  day  or 
two  of  pouting  and  sullenness,  would  have  compromised 
the  matter  by  one  of  his  customary  simple  apologies,  of 
'  Pray,  Sir,  forgive  me  ! '  Dr.  Johnson,  though  often 
irritated  by  the  oflicious  importunity  of  Mr.  Boswell, 
was  really  touched  by  his  attachment." 


240  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

The  lady  of  tlic  house,  though  glad  to  receive  liiiu, 
with  other  amusing  or  eccentric  guests,  seems  to  have 
returned  his  dislike.     In  her  little  book  of  "  Anecdotes" 
she  expresses  her  contempt  of  his  practice  of  "  settling 
down   steadily,"   note  -  book   in    hand,    to    record    the 
doctor's  utterances,  which  must  have  been  disagreeable 
to  any  hostess.     It  must  have  been  an  odd  spectacle 
at  social  meetings  to  find  a  person  so  engaged  ;    and 
it  is  curious  that  we  do   not  find  it  noticed.     During 
the  course    of  his  attendance,  Boswell  was  to    receive 
some  very   rude    attacks   and  bufi'ets  from   his    friend, 
who  was  beginning   to   sufter  acutely   from  his  many 
maladies,    and   was   not   inclined    to    restrain    his   im- 
23atience   at    the    pertinacity   of    his    follower.      These 
rudenesses,   it   must  be  said,   were   received   with  un- 
flagging good   temper  and   patience.     It  will   be   said 
that  this  was   owing  to  the   "sycophantic"   nature  of 
the  man ;  but  it  is  evident  he  was  deeply  hurt  by  such 
treatment,  and  tried  as  hard  as  he  could  to  make  every 
allow\ance  for  the  rough  temj)er  of  his  friend.     It  was 
a  curious  insensibility  that  could  have  led  to  his  actually 
printing  these  rebuff's  at  length  ;  but  his  enthusiasm  for 
his  work,  and  the  reluctance  to  lose  a  good  point,  was 
his  reason.     Johnson  must  have  been  often  annoyed  by 
his  admirer's  behaviour,  but   was  even  more  put  out 
by  the  ineptitude  with  which  the   off'ender  fancied  he 
mended  matters.* 

But  what  Johnson  always  particularly  resented  was 
Boswell's  trying  to  pit  him  against  some  person  in  the 
company,  and  "getting  up"  a  dispute  with  a  view  of 
producing  a  heated  or  dramatic  controversy  to  furnish 

*  Perhaps  the  most  absurd  of  tlie  absurd  questions  put  to  him 
by  bis  follower,  was  bow  be  would  treat  a  newly  born  baby  !  Ho 
pressed  bim  with  innumerable  questions  on  this  topic:  "I  would 
not  coddle  it,  sir,"  Johnson  answered,  with  much  good  huinour. 


IN  ATTENDANCE   ON  JOHNSON.  241 

"  copy."  In  this  lie  occasionally  succeeded  too  well, 
and  Johnson,  having  indulged  in  some  unbecoming 
outburst,  would  naturally  turn  on  his  henchman,  and 
lay  the  blame  on  him.  "  '  I  know  nothing,'  he  would 
say,  *  more  offensive  than  repeating  what  one  knows  to 
be  foolish  things,  by  way  of  continuing  a  dispute,  to 
see  what  a  man  will  answer, — to  make  him  your  butt ! ' 
(angrier  still.)  Bos  well.  'My  dear  Sir,  I  had  no 
such  intention  as  you  seem  to  suspect ;  I  had  not  in- 
deed. Might  not  this  nobleman  have  felt  everything 
"  weary,  stale,  flat,  and  unprofitable,"  as  Hamlet  says  ? ' 
Johnson.  '  Nay,  if  you  are  to  bring  in  gabble,  I'll  talk 
no  more.'     My  readers  will  decide  upon  this  dispute." 

One  evening  in  1769,  in  presence  of  "  a  pretty  large 
circle,"  the  subject  of  vapour  baths  being  introduced, 
Johnson  had  "  pooh-poohed  "  the  notion,  when  "  one  of 
the  company  " — certainly  Boswell — attempted  to  defend 
the  system.  The  doctor  turned  on  him,  "  Well,  sir,  go 
and  get  thyself  fumigated,  and  be  sure  that  the  steam 
be  directed  to  thy  head  :  for  that  is  the  peccant  part !  " 
This,  the  victim  tells  us  with  some  ruefulness,  "  pro- 
duced a  triumphant  roar  of  laughter  from  the  motley 
assembly  of  philosophers,  printers,  and  dependants,  male 
and  female."  *      But  on  many  occasions — many  more, 

*  Tliis  relisTi  o£  a  good  situation,  even  though  it  made  Boswell 
ridiculous,  suggests  a  story  told  in  Reynolds's  diverting  "  Memoirs."' 
That  humorist  had  been  invited  to  a  dinner  by  Miles  Peter  Andrews, 
to  meet  a  number  of  sober  city  men,  bankers  and  others.  His  host 
warned  him  solemnly  to  restrain  his  wit,  especially  at  his  expense, 
as  he  wished  to  preserve  his  sober  character  with  these  magnates. 
The  dinner  flagged,  and  was  a  failure.  No  one  talked  :  when,  in  a 
sort  of  desperation,  Reynolds  sti-uck  in— to  the  horror  of  his  friend 
— with  a  sly  jest  on  the  forbidden  subject.  To  his  astonishment  the 
bankers  were  delighted.  He  tried  another  in  the  same  style.  The 
host  was  so  pleased,  that  he  eagerly  invited  him  to  continue  : 
"  Tell  them,  my  dear  Reynolds,  that  capital  story  about  me," — au 
incident  in  which  he  cut  a  ridiculous  figure. 

VOL.  I.  K 


242  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

indeed,  tlian  Boswell  has  ventured  to  record — Johnson, 
irritated   by  his  flippancy    or    fi-eedom,   turned   on  his 
faithful  henchman,  and  "  tossed  and  gored  "  him  for  the 
amusement  of  the  company.     Some  of  the  attacks  were 
very  coarse  and  gross,  and  full  of  coarse  ridicule.     Once, 
during  "  The  Tour,"  when  the  doctor  began,  "  If  I  kept 
a  seraglio,"   poor  Boswell  was  so  tickled  at  the  notion 
that   he   laughed   aloud ;    on  which    his   friend  turned 
on  him,  and  "  instantly  retaliated  with  such  sarcastic 
wit,  such  a  variety  of  degradinrj  images,  of  every  one 
of  ivhich   I  wees  the  object,  etc."     Forcible  as  is   this 
description,  it  is  unique  to  find  any  one  recording  such 
a  thing  of  himself     Boswell,  however,  brought  these 
attacks  on  himself,    by  pressing  his  friend  on    points 
which  tact  or   good  manners  would  have   shown  were 
not  to  be  pressed  publickly.     Thus  he  once  asked  him 
"did  he  wear  a  nightcap  ? "    We  can  follow  the  stages 
of  the  doctor's  rising  irritation  :    "  No,"  was  the  blunt 
jinswer.     The  other  persisted,  and  this  before  company  : 
"  Was   it  best   not  to   wear  one  ? "   The  doctor  replied 
sarcastically,  that  "  he  had  the  custom  by  chance,  and, 
perhajDS,  no  man  shall  ever  know  whether  it  is  best  to 
sleep  with,  or  without,   a  nightcap."     This  half-sneer, 
half-rebuke,  might  have  warned    Boswell.       But  when 
Johnson  said  later,  "  One  might  as  well  go  without  shoes 
or   stockings,"  Boswell,  "  thinking  to  have  a  little  hit 
at  his  own  deficiency,"  ventured  to  add  " — or  without  a. 
nightcap,"  when  the  doctor,  sternly — "  I  don't  see  the 
connection  there  (laughing).     Nobody  before  was  ever 
foolish  enouo-h  to   ask  whether  it  was  best  to  wear  a. 
nightcap  or  not.     This  comes  of  being  a  little  wrong- 
headed."    "  He  carried  the  company  with  him."    Again, 
in    a    discussion    on     wearing     fine    clothes,     Boswell 
foolishly  said,    "  Would  not  you,  sir,  be  the  better  for 


IN  ATTENDANCE    ON  JOHNSON.  243 

velvet  embroidery  ? "  The  doctor  replied  roughly, 
'•  Sir,  you  put  an  end  to  all  argument  when  you  intro- 
duce your  opponent  himself.  Have  you  no  better 
manners  ?     Tiiere  is  your  want." 

Sometimes  Bozzy  would  presume  and  become  too 
familiar.  "  This  season,  there  was  a  whimsical  fashion 
in  the  news-papers  of  applying  Shakspeare's  words  to 
describe  living  persons  well  known  in  the  world.  Some- 
body said  to  Johnson,  across  the  table,  that  he  had  not 
been  in  those  characters.  '  Yes  (said  he)  1  have.  T 
should  have  been  sorry  to  be  left  out.'  He  then 
repeated  what  had  been  applied  to  him. 

♦' '  You  must  borrow  me  Garagantua's  mouth.' 

Miss  Reynolds  not  perceiving  at  once  the  meaning  of 
this,  he  was  obliged  to  explain  it  to  her,  which  had 
something  of  an  aukward  and  ludicrous  effect.  '  Why, 
Madam,  it  has  a  reference  to  me,  as  using  big  w^ords, 
which  require  the  mouth  of  a  giant  to  pronounce  them. 
Garagantua  is  the  name  of  a  giant  in  Rabelais.' 
Notwithstanding  this  ease  and  good  humour,  when  1, 
a  little  while  afterwards,  repeated  his  sarcasm  on 
Kenrick,  which  was  received  with  applause,  he  asked, 
'  \Vlw  said  thatr  and  on  my  suddenly  answering, — 
Garagantua,  he  looked  serious,  ivJiich  ivas  a  sufficient 
indication  that  lie  did  not  wish  it  to  he  ke^Jt  up.'''' 

This  is  one  of  Bozzy's  comedy  scenes  ;  and  the  touch 
as  to  Johnson's  having  to  explain  to  the  lady  the 
meaning  of  Garagantua,  which  "  had  an  awkward  and 
ludicrous  effect,"  is  a  nice  bit  of  observation.  But  how 
excellently  it  exhibits  his  own  lack  of  appreciation  ;  for 
when  he  called  his  mentor  "  Garagantua,"  he  wondered 
that  he  should  have  looked  serious  or  considered  it  a, 
familiarity,  which  it  was.     He    could    not  understand 


244  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

that  there  was  a  clifFerence  in  haviDg  a  descriptive 
line  of  Shakespeare's  applied  in  a  printed  volume  and 
a  nickname  quoted  before  company  by  a  familiar 
dependant. 

A  more  than  usual  burst  of  absurdity  was  this :  "  This 
evening,  while  some  of  the  tunes  of  ordinary  composition 
were  played  with  no  great  skill,  my  frame  was  agitated, 
and  I  was  conscious  of  a  generous  attachment  to  Dr. 
Johnson,  as  my  preceptor  and  friend,  mixed  with  an 
affectionate  regret  that  he  was  an  old  man,  whom  I 
should  probably  lose  in  a  short  time.  /  thoiight  I  could 
defend  him  at  the  j^oint  of  my  sword.  My  reverence 
and  affection  for  him  were  in  full  glow.  I  said  to  him, 
'  My  dear  sir,  we  must  meet  every  year,  if  you  don't 
quarrel  with  me.'  Johnson.  '  Nay,  Sir,  you  are  more 
likely  to  quarrel  with  me,  than  I  with  you.  My  regard 
for  you  is  greater  almost  than  I  have  words  to  express  ; 
but  I  do  not  chuse  to  be  always  repeating  it ;  write 
it  down  in  the  first  leaf  of  your  pocket-book,  and  never 
doubt  of  it  again.'  " 

But  when  he  gave  way  to  any  ludicrously  exaggerated 
feeling,  Johnson  "  downed  "  him  at  once.  "  I  told  him 
that  music  affected  me  to  such  a  degree,  as  often  to 
agitate  my  nerves  painfully,  producing  in  my  mind 
alternate  sensations  of  pathetic  dejection,  so  that  I  was 
ready  to  shed  tears  ;  and  of  daring  resolution,  so  that 
I  was  inclined  to  rush  into  the  thickest  part  of  the 
battle.  '  Sir  (said  he,)  I  should  never  hear  it,  if  it 
made  "me  such  afoolJ  " 

Once  Johnson's  attack  was  too  outrao^eous  to  be 
recorded,  even  by  Mr.  Boswell.  He  says  it  was  "  owing 
to  some  circumstances  which  I  cannot  now  recollect." 
Yet  "  there  was  a  very  large  company,  and  a  great 
deal  of  conversation.       There  were  several  people  there 


IN  ATTENDANCE    ON  JOHNSON.  245 

by  no  means  of  the  Johnsonian  school,  so  that  less 
attention  was  paid  to  him  than  usual,  which  put  him 
out  of  humour,  and  upon  some  imaginary  offence  from 
me,  he  attacked  me  with  such  rudeness  that  I  was  vexed 
and  angry,  because  it  gave  those  persons  an  opportunity 
of  enlarging  upon  his  supposed  ferocity,  and  ill-treatment 
of  his  best  friends.  I  was  so  much  hurt,  and  had  my 
pride  so  much  roused,  that  I  kept  away  from  him  for 
a  week,  and  perhaps  might  have  kept  away  much 
longer,  nay,  gone  to  Scotland  without  seeing  him  again, 
had  we  not  fortunately  met  and  been  reconciled." 

Mr.  Croker  learned  what  took  place  from  the 
Marquis  of  Wellesley,  who  had  it  from  Mr.  Sydenham, 
who  had  it  from  Mr.  Bright,  who,  again,  had  it  from 
his  host,  Sir  Joshua.  '•  The  wits  of  Queen  Anne's  reign 
were  talked  of,  when  Boswell  exclaimed,  'How  delightful 
it  must  have  been  to  have  lived  in  the  society  of  Pope, 
Swift,  Arbuthnot,  Gay,  and  Bolingbroke !  We  have  no 
such  society  in  our  days.'  Sir  Joshua  answered,  '  I 
think,  Mr.  Boswell,  you  might  be  satisfied  with  your 
great  friend's  conversation.'  '  Nay,  sir,  Mr.  Boswell  is 
right,'  said  Johnson,  '  every  man  wishes  for  preferment, 
and  if  Boswell  had  lived  in  those  days  he  would  have 
obtained  promotion.'  '  How  so,  sir  ? '  asked  Sir  Joshua. 
*  Why,  sir,'  said  Johnson,  '  he  would  have  had  a  high 
place  in  the  Dunciad.' "  This  shows  that  if  every  man 
"  cannot  carry  a  ho)i  mot,"  still  fewer  have  the  more 
difficult  gift  of  "  carrying  "  a  conversation.  Here  w^e  have 
the  rude  speech,  but  without  the  point  or  the  colouring. 
Boswell,  however,  thought  the  incident  too  dramatic  to 
be  lost,  so  he  shifted  the  scene  and  altered  the  characters. 
How  differently  the  story  reads  in  this  vigorous 
pointed  shape  !  "  He  honoured  me  with  his  company, 
at   dinner,    on    Oct.    16th,    17C9,    when    there   was    a 


246  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOS  WELL. 

very  large  company,  and  a  great  deal  of  conversa- 
tion. One  of  the  company  ventured  to  say  that  the 
concludino-  lines  of  the  '  Dunciad '  were  '  too  fine  for 
such  a  poem — a  poem  on  what  ? '  Johnson  (with  a 
disdainful  look).  '  Why,  on  dunces.  It  was  worth 
while  being  a  dunce  then.  Ah,  sir,  hadst  thou  lived  in 
those  days ! ' "  This  was  actually  at  Boswell's  own 
table.  We  may  w^onder  if  it  ever  occurred  to  him 
that  those  who  had  been  present  at  such  scene  w^ould 
recall  who  was  intended  by  "one  of  the  company,"  and 
so  transparent  a  disguise.  There  must  have  been  many 
a  loud  laugh. 

Johnson,  however,  knew  how  to  soothe  and  reconcile 
him.  Their  reconciliation  is  dramatic  enough.  "  On 
Friday,  May  8,  I  dined  with  him  at  Mr.  Langton's.  I 
was  reserved  and  silent,  which  I  suppose  he  perceived, 
and  might  recollect  the  cause.  After  dinner,  when  Mr. 
Langton  was  called  out  of  the  room,  and  we  were  by  our- 
selves, he  drew  his  chair  near  to  mine,  and  said,  in  a  tone 
of  conciliating  courtesy,  '  Well,  how  have  you  done  ? ' 
BoswELL.  '  Sir,  you  have  made  me  very  uneasy  by 
your  behaviour  to  me  when  we  were  last  at  Sir  Joshua 
Reynolds's.  You  know,  my  dear  Sir,  no  man  has  a 
greater  respect  and  affection  for  you,  or  would  sooner  go 
to  the  end  of  the  world  to  serve  you.     Now  to  treat 

me  so .'      He  insisted  that  I  had  interrupted  him, 

which  I  assured  him  was  not  the  case ;  and  proceeded 
— '  But  why  treat  me  so  before  people  who  neither 
love  you  nor  me  '? '  Johnson.  '  Well,  I  am  sorry  for 
it.  I'll  make  it  up  to  you  twenty  different  ways,  as 
you  please.'  Boswell.  "  I  said  to-day  to  Sir  Joshua, 
wdien  he  observed  that  you  tossed  me  sometimes — I 
don't  care  how  often,  or  how  high  he  tosses  me,  when 
only   friends    are    present,   for   then    I   fall   upon   soft 


IN  ATTENDANCE   ON  JOHNSON.  247 

groimd  :  but  I  do  not  like  falling  on  stones,  which  is 
the  case  when  enemies  are  present. — 1  think  this  a 
pretty  good  image,  Sir.'  Johnson.  '  fSir,  it  is  one  of 
the  happiest  I  have  ever  heard.'  Vie  were  instantly  tis 
cordial  again  as  ever,  and  joined  in  hearty  laugh  at  some 
ludicrous  hut  innocent  peculiarities  of  one  of  our  friends." 
There  is  something  almost  piteous  in  this  pleading  of 
the  affectionate  Boswell.  Like  a  spoiled  child  he  asks 
for  praise  for  his  very  confused  metaphor,  and  which 
Johnson,  wishing  to  soothe  him,  declared  to  be  "  one  of 
the  happiest  he  ever  heard." 

Again,  the  amount  of  mischief  and  ill-feeling  Boswell 
must  have  caused  by  carrying  about  and  repeating  to 
the  parties  concerned  ill-natured  remarks  made  in 
private  conversation  must  have  been  considerable.  He 
would  thus  repeat  to  A.  what  B.  had  said  of  him,  with 
an  innocent  air,  as  if  merely  to  know  if  there  was  any 
accuracy  in  the  statement.  Thus,  Johnson,  who  always 
spoke  freely  of  Foote,  had  said  contemptuously  :  "  I  do 
not  know,  Sir,  that  the  fellow  is  an  infidel ;  but  if  he 
be  an  infidel,  he  is  an  infidel  as  a  dog  is  an  infidel ;  that 
is  to  say,  he  has  never  thought  upon  the  subject." 
Johnson  would  not  have  cared  if  this  speech  had  reached 
Foote's  ears  :  but  he  never  conceived  that  it  would  be 
repeated  to  him  as  his,  by  the  very  person  to  whom  he 
had  addressed  it.  It  seems  that  later,  at  Edinburgh, 
Foote  was  indulging  a  numerous  Scotch  company  with 
some  "coarse  jocularity"  at  the  expense  of  the  doctor, 
which  Boswell  felt  "was  not  civil  to  me,"  and  observed  : 
"that  surely  Johnson  must  be  allowed  to  have  some 
sterling  wit,  and  that  I  had  heard  him  say  a  very  good 
thing  of  Mr,  Foote  himself.  '  Ah,  my  old  friend  Sam,- 
(cried  Foote),  no  man  says  better  things  :  do  let  us 
have  it.'      Upon  which  I  told  the  above  story,  w^hich 


248  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

produced  a  very  loud  laugli  from  the  company.  But  I 
tiever  saw  Foote  so  disconcerted.  He  looked  grave  and 
angry,  and  entered  into  a  serious  refutation  of  the 
justice  of  the  remark.  '  What,  Sir,  (said  he,)  talk  thus 
of  a  man  of  liberal  education  : — a  man  who  for  years  was 
at  the  University  of  Oxford : — a  man  who  has  added 
sixteen  new  characters  to  the  English  drama  of  his 
country!'"  Here  Foote  was  merely  joking  and  buffoon- 
ing about  the  doctor,  when  Boswell  introduced  an  un- 
mannerly charge  of  infidelity,  and  the  offensive  metaphor 
of  the  dog.  No  wonder  Foote  was  disconcerted.  Boswell 
no  doubt  brought  about  the  result  of  making  him  the 
doctor's  enemy  for  life.* 

Johnson's  patience  must  have  been  tried  when 
Boswell  indulged  in  what  he  fancied  were  clever, 
original  speculations.  "  Dr.  Johnson  told  me  he  wished 
there  could  be  some  medicine  invented  which  would 
make  one  rise  without  pain,  which  I  never  did,  unless 
after  lying  in  bed  a  very  long  time.  Perhaps  there 
may  be  something  in  the  stores  of  nature  which  could 
do  this.  /  have  thought  of  a  pulleij  to  ixiise  me 
graducdly ;  but  that  would  give  me  pain,  as  it  would 
counteract  my  internal  inclination.  I  would  have  some- 
thing that  can  dissipate  the  vis  inertice,  and  give 
elasticity  to  the  muscles."  Boswell  was  callous  enough 
to  disregard  Dr.  Johnson's  rude  hints,  and,  as  Scott 
wittily  says,  "  when  telling  them  always  reminds  one  of 
a  jockey  receiving  a  kick  from  the  horse  he  is  showing  off 
to  a  customer — grinning  with  pain  while  he  is  trying  to 
cry  out,  '  Pretty  rogue — no  vice — all  fun.'  " 

*  In  the  same  spirit,  lie  repeated  to  Lord  Monboddo,  who  had 
"been  so  hospitable  to  the  travellers,  a  rough  speech  of  Johnson's  : 
some  one,  he  said,  talked  nonsense;  "but  Monboddo,  I  fear,  does 
not  knotv  when  he  is  talking  nonsense." 


(     249     ) 


CHAPTER 

boswell's  relations. 

When  Boswell  returned  home,  in  May,  1778,  lie  paid  a 
visit  to  Mr.  Bosville  of  Thorpe,  Yorkshire,  on  his  road. 
He  always  speaks  with  a  sort  of  awe  and  pride  of  this 
kinsman,  whom  he  thought  it  a  great  thing  to  be  invited 
to  visit,  and  to  whose  sister's  hand  he  aspired  in  one  of 
his  day-dreams, — "Miss  Bosville,  the  great  Yorkshire 
heiress,"  as  he  wrote  exultingly  to  his  friend.  He  had 
set  his  heart  on  introducing  his  great  friend  here,  and 
thus  ingeniously  contrived  to  suggest  an  invitation  of  the 
doctor  to  Squire  Godfrey.  "  I  wTote  to  'Squire  Godfrey 
Bosville,  my  Yorkshire  chief,  that  I  should,  perhaps,  pay 
him  a  visit,  as  I  was  to  hold  a  conference  with  Dr. 
Johnson  at  York.  I  give  you  my  word  of  honour  that 
I  said  not  a  word  of  his  inviting  you ;  but  he  wrote  to 
me  as  follows : 

"  '  I  need  not  tell  you  I  shall  be  happy  to  see  you 
here  the  latter  end  of  this  month,  as  you  propose  ;  and 
I  shall  likewise  be  in  hopes  that  you  will  persuade  Dr. 
Johnson  to  finish  the  conference  here.  It  will  add  to 
the  favour  of  your  own  company,  if  you  prevail  upon 
such  an  associate,  to  assist  your  observations.     I  have 


250  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

often  been  entertained  with  his  writings,  and  I  once 
belonged  to  a  club  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  I 
never  spent  an  evening  there,  but  I  heard  something 
from  him  well  worth  remembering.' 

"  We  have  thus,  my  dear  Sir,  good  comfortable 
quarters  in  the  neighbourhood  of  York,  where  you  may 
be  assured  we  shall  be  heartily  welcome." 

The  Boswells  or  Bosvilles — for  it  is  the  same  name — 
seem  all  to  have  had  an  odd  "strain."  This  somewhat 
eccentric  Mr.  Bosville  had  served  in  the  American  War ; 
and  he  it  was,  no  doubt,  whom  Boswell  describes  (in  the 
"  Hypochondriack  ")  as  having  related  to  him  a  curious 
story  of  a  soldier's  sang-froid.  Eetiring  from  the  army 
in  1777,  he  made  the  grand  tour.  On  his  return,  he 
formed  a  friendship  with  Home  Tooke ;  and  used  to 
drive  down  every  Sunday  to  his  strange  establishment 
at  Wimbledon,  for  dinner,  in  a  coach-and-four, — a  custom 
he  maintained  for  many  years.  "  He  gave  out  that 
they  had  made  a  solemn  compact  to  support  everything 
that  was  established.  He  was  wealthy,  and  displayed 
an  unbounded  hospitality.  At  his  house,  at  Welbeck 
Street,  there  was  a  sort  of  free  table.  A  slate  was  hung 
up  in  the  hall,  and  any  one,  putting  his  name  down 
in  time,  could  secure  a  place.  The  company  usually 
included  Tooke,  Lords  Hutchinson  and  Oxford,  Parson 
Este,  and  others.  Dinner  was  served  at  five  o'clock, 
punctual  to  the  minute."  He  used  to  repeat  humorously 
"  Some  say.  Better  late  than  never ;  I  say.  Better  never 
than  late,"  a  rather  original  version ;  and  it  was  related 
that  an  old  friend  who  arrived  four  minutes  too  late  was 
refused  admission,  on  the  excuse  that  "  master  was  at 
dinner."  Other  curious  particulars  are  recorded  of  him. 
Like  his  kinsman,  Boswell,  he  loved  London,  and  hardly 
ever  left  it  for  more  than  a  day,  declaring  that  "  it  was 


BU SWELL'S  DELATIONS.  251 

the  best  residence  in  winter,  iind  that  he  knew  no  [)lace 
like  it  in  summer."  Even  when  in  Yorkshire,  he  conkl 
liardly  be  got  to  pay  a  visit  to  his  estates.  When  Cob- 
bett  w^as  confined  in  Newgate,  he  woukl  drive  to  see  him 
in  his  coacli-and-fonr,  and,  kater,  presented  him  with  a 
note  for  £1000.  His  dress  was  "a  tunic,  a  George  11. 
w^ig,  a  queue,  and  a  single-breasted  coat."  As  he  grew 
okl  his  health  began  to  fail,  but  his  spirit  and  his  taste 
for  convivial  meetings  remained.  To  the  last  tlie  daily 
dinner-parties  were  kept  up,  and,  on  the  morning  of  his 
death  even,  he  gave  his  usual  directions  for  the  banquet. 
"He  died  on  December  16,  1813,  aged  G9,  and  was  the 
last  known  male  descendant  of  Kichard  Bosville,  of  the 
time  of  Henry  VI."  Being  unmarried,  he  bequeathed 
]iis  estates  to  his  nephew,  Lord  Macdonald,  a  relation  of 
Boswell's  old  enemy  in  Skye. 

Another  relation,  to  whom  he  was  much  attached, 
but  who  figures  little  in  the  chronicle,  was  his  brother, 
of  whom  he  gives  this  sketch  :  "  My  brother  David  was 
so  lucky  as,  just  at  the  conclusion  of  his  apprenticeship, 
to  be  assumed  partner  in  a  house  at  Valencia,  in  Spain. 
Honorius  Dalliol,  a  Frenchman,  Mr.  Charles  Herries,  a 
Scotchman,  and  David,  are  the  partners.  He  has  been 
there  some  months  :  he  is  delighted  with  the  country, 
and  writes  me  admirable  letters  ;  he  is  agitated  with 
generous  ideas  of  perfection,  as  you  and  I  used  to  be. 
He  is  miserable  if  he  does  not  make  that  fio-ure  in  conver- 
sation  which  he  wishes  to  do  :  and  he  bes^s  that  I  would 
inform  him,  from  you,  how  it  is  that  you  can  sit  quite 
serene,  placid,  and  happy,  in  a  company  ^vhen  perhaps 
you  have  hardly  opened  your  mouth."  I  fancy  Boswell 
stood  somewhat  in  awe  of  this  sober  brother ;  indeed 
he  is  always  paying  him  compliments :  and  perhaps 
this  accounts  for  the  rather  perplexing  suj)pression  of 


252  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

his  brother's  name,  when  any  reader  can  see  who  is 
intended.* 

Boswell  was,  in  the  year  1780,  greatly  delighted 
by  the  arrival  of  brother  David,  who  had  been  driven 
out  of  Spain  by  the  war,  and  was  now  come  to  settle  in 
London.  He  had  been  twelve  years  away,  and  Boswell 
introduced  him  to  his  friend  in  a  sort  of  exulting  letter. 
David  seems  to  have  possessed  some  of  his  brother's 
enthusiasm.  He  came  to  Auchinleck,  and,  before  he 
went  away,  Boswell  devised  what  he  called  "  a  romantick 
family  solemnity,"  or  oath,  which  he  seems  to  have 
administered  to  such  of  the  family  as  would  take  it ; 
and  David  had  pledged  himself  "to  stand  by  the  old 
Castle  of  Auchinleck  with  heart,  purse,  and  sword." 
David  presented  himself  to  Johnson  in  London,  who 
pronounced  him  an  agreeable  man,  "  who  spoke  no 
Scotch." 

"My  brother,"  says  James,  "arrived  at  Edinburgh 
on  the  12th  June,  1780,  and  lodged  in  my  house.  AVe 
went  to  Auchinleck  in  August,  and  were  four  weeks 
there  with  our  father.  David  and  I  then  returned  to 
Edinburgh,  where  he  staid  with  us  a  few  days,  after 
which  he  went  to  London,  and  is  now  settling  himself 
there  as  a  merchant  and  banker.  He  is  a  sensible, 
intelligent,  accurate  man,  very  formal  and  very  prudent ; 
in  short,  as  different  from  me  in  his  manner,  and  in  his 
general  way  of  thinking,  as  you  can  suppose.     But  I 

*  In  the  course  of  Boswell's  narratives  we  find  many  allusions 
— carelessly  dropped — to  other  relations  and  connections.  Thus,  at 
Derby,  Johnson  and  he  dined  with  Dr.  Butter,  "  whose  lady  is 
daughter  of  my  cousin,  Sir  John  Douglas,  whoso  grandson  is 
now  presumptive  heir  of  the  noble  family  of  Queensbury."  As 
we  have  seen,  he  met  another  consin,  Colonel  Graham,  at 
Drogheda:  and  there  were  Cunninghams,  Campbell  of  Trees- 
bank,  "  my  aunt  Boyd,"  "  my  cousin  Miss  Dallas,  married  to  Mr. 
Riddick,"  etc. 


BOSWELUS  RELATIONS.  25 


Q 


trust  he  is  ca  man  of  good  principles.  ...  He  says  lie  will 
probably  never  make  a  great  fortune,  because  lie  will  not 
be  adventurous  ;  but  he  will  get  what  he  can  by  assi- 
duity and  economy.  He  told  me  that  soon  after  settling 
in  Spain  he  gave  up  all  philosophizing,  and  applied 
liimsclf  to  real  business.  He  says  he  found  out  that 
men  who  speculate  on  life,  as  you  and  I  do,  are  not 
successful  in  substantial  concerns.  He  is  in  the  right,  I 
am  afraid.  If  you  have  money  matters  to  transact  in 
London,  I  beg  you  may  employ  him." 

That  he  deserved  his  brother's  praise  is  shown  by 
the  fact  of  his  changing  his  name  to  Thomas,  "  as  the 
Spaniards  were  prejudiced  against  that  of  David,  which 
had  Jewish  associations."  His  character  in  some  points 
resembled  those  of  his  better-known  brother,  particu- 
larly in  that  of  family  pride,  and  in  a  steady  desire  for 
advancing  himself.  This  is  rather  amusingly  shown  in 
some  letters  wTitten  from  Valencia  to  one  of  the 
Ministers,  Lord  Grantham,  who  w\as  a  patron  of  his, 
and  whom  he  steadily  pursued  with  letters,  until  he 
obtained  what  he  asked  for.  Thus,  in  September,  1774, 
we  find  him  writing  on  a  curious  grievance. 

"  Presuming  on  the  experience  he  has  had  of  his 
Lordship's  goodness,"  he  complained  that  by  a  decree  of 
the  King  of  Spain  in  1761,  "the  use  of  pistols  is 
prohibited  to  everybody  except  gentlemen  or  Hidalgos, 
and  only  permitted  to  them  Avlien  they  are  mounted," 
and  a  French  gentleman  had  been  arrested  for  violating 
this  rule.  "  As  for  what  regards  me,"  goes  on  Mr. 
Bos  well,  "  your  Lordship  has  been  already  informed  of 
my  book  by  Mr.  Bindley  and  Mr.  Lockhart,  and  I  take 
the  liberty  of  assuring  your  Lordship  that  my  family  is 
one  of  the  most  ancient  and  respectable  of  the  County 
of  Ayr.     My  father  has  near  <£1500  sterling  a  year  of 


254  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

landed  estate,  besides  his  salary,  being  feudal  lord  of 
a  village  and  two  baronies  which    have    been  in   the 
family  for  a  number  of  years."     He  then  sets  out  the 
great  f\ivour  with  which  he  is  treated  by  the  Captain 
General,  to  whom  he  was  recommended  by  Lord  J\Ia- 
rischal   of  Scotland,  and  who  "  shews  me,  with  all  his 
family  as  much  attention  and  friendship  as  if  I  were 
their  relative  ;  "  he  is,  however,  ninety  years  old,  and  the 
judges  who  "  full  of  malice  to  strangers  "  pay  no  atten- 
tion to  him.     He  therefore  begged  for  a  letter  from  the 
Marquis  de  Grimaldi,  ordering  that  he  might  enjoy  this 
privilege    of    carrying   pistols.      "1    have    an    Englisli 
partner  who  resides  in  London,  and  my  other  partner, 
who  is  a  Frenchman,  lives  here."     In  May,  1775,  the 
consul  having  died,  we  find  Mr.  Boswell  applying  for 
the  post,  as  being  the  only  British  subject  in  Valencia. 
When  his  friend  the  Captain  General  died,  he   wrote 
again,    to    beg   from    his    Lordship    letters    of    recom- 
mendation to  the  new  Captain  General,  "  that  may  be 
of  weight,  not  omitting  the  circumstance  of  my  having 
been  born  of  a  gentleman."     He  was  gratified  in  this 
matter,  but  presently  wrote  again  to  beg  a  passport,  as 
he  was  about  to  travel  through  the  provinces.     The 
passport  he  begged,  should  describe  him.  particularly  as 
"Monsieur  Boswell,  gentilhomme  Anglois."     He   must 
evidently  have  established  himself  in  Lord  Grantham's 
favour,  as  he  generally  succeeded — though  after  a  good 
deal    of    importunity — in    obtaining    that    nobleman's 
official  assistance.* 

David,  after  settling  in  London,  appears  to  have 
become,  like  his  brother,  a  sort  of  "hanger  on"  to 
political  patrons,  and  in  particular  to  Mr.  Dundas, 
whom   he   importuned   steadily,    and   who    made   him 

*  MS.,  British  ^Museum. 


BO  SWELL'S  RELATIONS.  255 

promises,  but  did  iiotliiug ;  and  this  unScatisfactory  state 
of  dependence  and  expectation  was  continued  for  many- 
years.  He  died  in  182G.  Another  brother,  John,  was 
established  at  Newcastle,  apparently  as  a  physician.* 
James  calls  him  a  "  strange  man  with  a  curious  appear- 
ance," supplying  this  instance  of  his  humour :  "  He 
took  a  ride  this  summer  as  far  as  the  Land's  End  ; 
he  was  at  Chudleigh,  no  less.  But  so  strange  a  man 
is  he,  that,  upon  hearing  that  it  was  a  cross-road  to 
Mamhead,  or  some  such  small  difficulty,  he  did  not  pay 
you  a  visit,  though  he  knew  that  I  wished  it  much,  and 
I  believe  wished  it  himself."  After  his  father's  death, 
he  came  to  Auchinleck,  but,  unhappily,  "  disagreed " 
with  his  fiither's  "  new  wife,"  and  so  went  back  to 
Newcastle. 

Dr.  Boswell,  the  uncle,  is  named  once  or  twice  in 
James's  works.  He  was  invited  to  meet  Johnson  at 
supper,  but  no  account  of  his  "talk"  is  recorded.  He 
was  a  warm  patron  of  Allan  Eamsay,  who  addressed 
him  in  some  rhymes, 

"  TO  DOCTOR  BOSWELL, 

"  With  the  two  vols,  of  my  Poems. 

"  These  are  the  flowing  from  my  Quill, 
when  in  my  youthful  days 
I  scamper'd  o'er  the  Muses'  Hill, 
and  panted  after  praise. 

"  Ambitions  to  appear  in  print, 
my  Labour  was  delyte, 
Regardless  of  the  envious  Squint, 
or  growling  Critick's  Spite. 

*  Dr.  Rogei's,   however,   says  he  was  in  the  army,  and  died 
unmarried. 


256  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

"  While  those  of  the  best  Taste  and  Senee 
indulg'd  my  native  fire, 
it  bleezed  by  their  benevolence, 
and  heaved  my  genius  higher. 

"  Dear  Doctor  Boswell,  such  were  they 
resembled  much  by  you, 
whose  favours  were  the  genial  ray 
by  which  to  fame  I  grew. 

"  From  my  first  setting  out  in  Rhime, 
neer  fourty  years  have  wheeld. 
Like  Isreal's  Sons,  so  long  a  Time 
through  fancy's  wiles  I've  reeld. 

"  May  powers  propitious  by  me  stand, 
since  it  is  all  my  claim, 
as  they  enjoyed  their  promised  land, 
may  I  my  promised  fame. 

"  While  Blythness  then  on  health  attends, 
and  love  on  Beautys  young, 
my  merry  Tales  shall  have  their  friends, 
and  Sonnets  shall  be  sung. 

"  r.  your  humble  Servt. 

"  Allan  Ramsat. 
"  From  ray  Bower  on  the  Castle 
Bank  of  Edinburgh,  March  the  10th,  1747." 

Another  connection  of  Boswell's,  of  whom  we  hear 
vaguely  as  a  "  descendant  of  the  Auchinleck  family  in 
Ayrshire,"  exhibited  something  of  his  own  excitable 
religious  feeling.  By  profession  a  Writer  to  the  "  Signet," 
he  joined  the  sect  of  "  Sandemanians,"  or  "  Glassites," 
among  whom  he  "  became  a  light  and  elder,  as  also  one 
of  the  many  mutilators  of  the  Psalms  in  metre."  He 
was  preaching  at  the  Sandemanian  Chapel  in  London, 
near  the  Barbican,  in  April,  1804,  on  the  text  "All 
flesh  is  grass,"  when  he  was  suddenly  seized  with  illness, 
and  expired  in  a  few  minutes.* 

*  It  must  have  been  this  Robert  Boswell  who  combined  with 
his  religions  office  the  post  of  "Lord  Lyon  Depute,"  in  which 
capacity  he  issued,  about  the  year  1775,  rather  an  odd  proclamation 


BOSWELVS  ItELATIONS.  257 

A  sister  of  Mrs.  Boswcll's  was  married  to  'My. 
Campbell  of  Treesbank — a  place  not  far  from  Auchin- 
leck, — where  Dr.  Johnson  and  his  companion  were 
entertained. 

AVhile  Boswell  was  on  a  visit  to  town  in  1783,  a 
very  tragic  incident  occurred  to  one  of  his  connections. 
He  had  gone  down,  on  a  visit,  to  Burke's  house  in  the 
country,  when  an  express  was  sent  to  him  summoning 
him  to  town.  A  near  relative  of  his,  Mr.  Cunningham 
of  the  Scots  Greys,  had  just  fought  a  duel  with  Mr. 
Eiddell  of  the  Life  Guards,  whom  he  killed  by  an 
extraordinary  chance,  after  he  himself  had  been  des- 
perately wounded.  There  was  an  extraordinary  ferocity 
and  bloodthirstiness  in  this  encounter,  which  seems 
to  warrant  a  characteristic  declaration  of  one  of  Mr. 
Boswell's  ancestors,  that  he  was  ready  to  dispute  that 
any  one  was  a  better  man  than  himself.  The  quarrel 
arose  out  of  a  gambling  dispute.  jMr.  Riddell  had  sent 
a,  challenge  which  his  opponent  put  aside  ;  but,  as  the 
matter  was  often  revived  by  way  of  reproach  by  Mr. 
Cunningham's  brother  officers,  he  was  constrained,  after 
an  interval,  to  renew  the  challenge,  which  JMr.  Riddell  in 
his  turn  now  declined,  as  being  too  long  delayed.  Some 
extraordinary  incidents  followed.  "  Mr.  Cunningham 
resohdng  to  force  his  adversary  to  fight,  and  chancing 
to  meet  him  accidentally  at  Mr.  Christie's,   the  army 

to  tlie  baronets  of  Xova  Scotia,  on  the  subject  of  a  badge  which 
they  were  to  wear  round  the  neck  by  warrant  of  King  Charles  I. 
''  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  to  many  Gentlemen  of  the  order  that  the 
use  of  the  above  honourable  Badge  of  distinction,  conferred  by  the 
Sovereign,  has  been  totally  neglected  :  and,  as  by  the  nature  of  my 
office  I  am  called  upon  to  attend  to  an  observance  of  regularity 
and  propriety  in  all  matters  of  honour,  I  think  it  proper  to  remind 
you,  as  a  Baronet  of  Scotland,  of  this  privilege  of  your  order."  He 
accordingly  suggested  the  calling  of  meetings,  one  in  London,  the 
•other  in  Edinburgh,  to  consider  the  matter. 

VOL.  I.  s 


258  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

agent's,  spat  in  Lis  face:  on  wliicli  Mr.  Eidclell,  with 
singular  calmness,  declared  that  this,  being  a  fresh 
affront,  he  should  take  notice  of  it,  and  went  home.  He 
had  scarcely  arrived  when  he  received  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Cunningham,  reminding  him  of  the  affront  he  had 
passed  upon  him,  and  declaring  his  readiness  to  give 
him  satisfaction."  What  followed  was  marked  by 
much  barbarism  and  ferocity.  The  note  coming  into 
the  hands  of  the  father  of  Mr.  Eiddell,  Sir  James,  "  who 
was  under  some  apprehension  of  his  son's  situation,  he 
opened  it  and  read  it,  then  closed  it  again  without  taking 
any  other  notice  of  the  contents  than  providing  the 
assistance  of  several  suro-eons  of  the  first  abilities.  The 
meeting  was  fixed ;  they  were  both  punctual.  Eight 
paces  were  first  measured  by  the  seconds,  and  afterwards 
the  contending  parties  took  their  ground.  They  tossed 
up  for  the  first  fire,  which  Mr.  Eiddell  won ;  he  fired 
and  shot  Mr.  Cunningham  under  the  right  breast,  the 
ball  passing,  it  is  supposed,  through  the  ribs  and  lodging 
in  the  left  side  near  the  back."  Then  followed  a  tragic 
incident  in  this  horrible  mode  of  quarrel.  AYe  are  told 
that  "the  moment  Mr.  Cunningham  received  the  shot 
he  reeled,  but  did  not  fall ;  he  opened  his  waistcoat  and 
declared  he  was  mortally  wounded.  Mr.  Eiddell  still 
remained  on  his  ground,  when  Mr.  Cunningham  declared 
he  would  not  be  taken  off  the  field  till  he  had  fired  at 
his  adversary  ;  ]\Ir.  Cunningham  then  presented  his 
pistol  and  shot  Mr.  Eiddell  in  the  groin,  and  he 
immediately  fell.  The  unhappy  gentleman  lingered  on 
until  seven  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning,  and  then 
expired."  Boswell  was  so  engrossed  with  this  tragic 
business,  the  incjuest,  etc.,  that  he  saw  nothing  of  his 
friend  for  a  week  or  so,  when  he  relieved  his  mind  by 
a    discussion   on    duelling.      The    curious   part    of  the 


BOSWELUS  DELATIONS.  259 

incident  is  that  there  was  to  be  a  second  fjital  duel  in 
Boswell's  family,  liis  eldest  son  later  losing  Lis  life  in 
one.* 

*  Boswell  says  that  Mr.  Cunningliara  was  liis  "  near  relation," 
but  I  suspect  that  he  was  one  of  his  wife's  relations.  I  find  that  she 
was  connected  Avith  a  baronet  of  that  name  ;  and  Avhen  he  was 
staying  with  the  Campbells  of  Treesbank  he  wrote  to  Sir  John 
Cunningham  of  Caprington,  whose  castle  Avas  but  two  miles  away, 
to  come  and  join  them. 


2  GO  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

WILKES — FLIRTATION — "JUNKETINGS." 

1775 — 1781. 

At  tliis  time  Boswell  was  much  excited  by  a  great  cause 
in  which  an  important  principle  of  legal  copyright  was 
involved.  His  old  friend  and  publisher  Donaldson,  the 
Edinburgh  bookseller,  had  ventured  to  infringe  on  what 
was  the  London  "  custom  "  rather  than  right,  by  which 
it  was  tacitly  accepted  that  a  confederacy  of  booksellers 
should  have  the  privilege  of  printing  a  particular  class 
of  works  which  had  long  been  in  their  hands.  The 
Scotch  bookseller  boldly  invaded  their  domain,  and 
competed  with  cheap  reprints.  Appeal  was  made  to 
the  Scotch  Law  Courts,  where  Boswell  was  eno-ao-ed  as 
counsel,  being  the  last  on  the  list.* 

Boswell's   accounts   of    his    various    "jaunts"    ;ire 
always  vivacious  and  agreeable,  as  he  was  generally  in 

*  He  was  so  eager  in  the  matter,  that  he  published  a  quarto 
report  of  the  case,  where  we  can  read  his  father's  judgment,  wliicli 
is  marked  by  his  usual  quaintness  :  "  The  decision  of  the  Court  of 
Sessions  upon  the  question  of  literary  property  in  the  cause  of 
John  Hinton  of  London,  Bookseller,  Pursuer,  against  Alexandei- 
Donaldson  and  John  Ward,  Booksellers  in  Edinburgh,  and  James 
Munroe,  Bookseller  in  Kilmarnock,  Defenders.  Published  by  James 
Boswell,  Esq.,  Advocate.  The  Counsel  were,  for  the  Pursuer — 
Mr.  David  Eae,  Mr.  Alexander  Murray,  Mr.  Allen  Maconochie  ; 
for  the  Defender — Mr.  John  Maclaren,  Mr.  Hay  Campbell,  Mi-. 
James  Boswell.  The  case  came  before  Lord  Coalston,  ordinary. 
All  the  six  Counsel  spoke,  and  the  pleadings  lasted  four  days." 


WILKES — FLIRTATION — "JUNKETINGS;'  2G 1 

spirits  fit  such  times.  In  March,  1775,  we  find  him 
{U'uin  ooino-  up  to  town  on  one  of  his  innnmerable 
expeditious,  which  liis  father  and  wife  always  protested 
against,  not  so  much  on  account  of  the  expense,  but 
because  they  knew  it  was  made  an  occasion  for  dissipa- 
tion. With  so  impressionable  a  member  of  tlie  fjimily, 
and  so  frail  a  vessel  too,  there  Avas  no  security  in  his 
assurances.  Indeed,  three  years  later,  he  frankly  told 
a  friend  that  he  had  no  power  to  control  himself  in  the 
matter  of  wine.* 

He  had  now  renewed  his  intimacy  with  AVilkes,  who, 
at  last  range,  had  become  a  respectable  citizen.  AVilkes, 
as  we  have  seen,  was  always  friendly,  and  found  pleasure 
in  his  company — no  doubt  gratified  by  the  enthusiastic 
devotion  which  his  admirer  always  manifested.  Yet  it 
seems  extraordinary  that  Boswell  should  have  recorded 
in  liis  book  so  many  ill-natured  strokes  at  his  friend. 
On  one  occasion  he  describes  him  as  "  a  Mr.  Wilkes," 
Avliich  was  a  misprint,  but  had  a  very  awkward  air, 

J\lany  were  the  convivial  parties  "  made  up  "  by  the 
jovial  Boswell,  to  his  own  detriment. 

To  Wilkes. 

"  My  dear  Sir, — Mr.  Malone,  Mr.  Courtenay,  and  I 
(your  old  traveUing  classical  companion)  will  be  much 
disappointed  if  you  do  not  meet  us  to-day  at  Mr.  Dilly's; 
where  you  will  find  wit,  wine,  and  gaiete  de  cceur. 
Remember  the  jovial  song,  in  which  we  read — 

"  '  Talk  no  more  of  whig  and  toiy  ; 
Let  state  affairs, 
And  worldly  cares, 
Be  thought  of  more  at  leisure.' 


*  "  Spottiswood  asked  ine  what  was  the  reason  I  had  given  up 
drinking  wine.  '  Because,'  said  I,  '  I  never  could  drink  it  but  to 
excess.'     Said  he,  '  An  excessive  good  reason.'  " 


262  ■  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

"  Your  excuse  therefore  of  beino;  eno-ao-ed  to  attend 
your  duty  in  parliament,  will  not  be  allowed  ;  and  were 
tlie  call  ever  so  strong,  you  would  be  time  enough  after 
some  pleasant  hours  with  us. 

"Your  life  is  already  too  rich  in  incident  to  require 
another  outJawru  to  vary  and  animate  your  memoirs. 
But  if  you  do  not  come,  depend  upon  it  you  shall  be 
outlawed  by  us  as  a  competent  tribunal ;  and  as  Lord 
Mansfield  is  now  old,  and  I,  by  my  admission  to  the 
English  bar  (which  you  so  agreeably  celebrated),  am 
now  in  j^ossc  to  succeed  him,  I  give  you  a  fair  warning, 
that  I  difi"er  so  much  from  his  lordship,  that  your  out- 
lawry shall  not  be  reversed.  Let  me  address  you  in  the 
words  in  which  you  ingeniously  fancied  Lord  Bute  to 
address  a  orreat  Tiersonao-e  at  Eome  : 

O  J.  o 

"  '  Nil  milii  rescribas,  attamen  ipse  veni.'  " 

To  tlie  Same. 

"  Edinburgh,  May  26,  1775. 

"  My  Lord, — I  called  at  the  mansion  house  when 
your  lordship  was  out  of  town  ;  and  faithfully  restored 
your  Cologne  gazettes,  which  afibrdecl  me  much  enter- 
tainment. Believe  me,  I  am  very  sensible  of  your  polite 
and  obliging  behaviour  to  me  upon  every  occasion, 
particularly  when  I  was  last  in  London.  We  were 
classical  and  gay  at  the  mansion  house,  as  when  at 
Rome  and  Naples  ;  nor  did  I  concern  myself  more  with 
your  wild  politics,  than  you  did  with  my  dull  Scotch 
law. 

"  I  have  recommended  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Dilly,  who 
is  my  charge  d'affaires,  to  get  a  pedigree  of  our  famil}^ 
authenticated  before  your  lordship  ;  to  be  transmitted 
to  my  brother,  a  merchant  at  Valencia  in  Spain.  It  is 
a  matter  of  some  consequence  to  him  in  that  country, 


WILKES — FLIR  TA  TION—"  JUNKETINGS."  203 

and  I  am  sure  you  will  be  kiud  enough  to  let  it  have  all 
due  solemnity. 

"It  is  long  sinee  I  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  your 
correspondence.  AVill  you  renew  it  with  me  now  ?  1 
should  value  as  curiosities  of  the  first  rate,  lively  sallies 
from  a  lord-nicayor  of  London,  such  as  those  from  Mr. 
Wilkes,  which  are  preserved  in  my  cabinet. 

"You  did  not  like  my  addressing  you,  *  my  lord, 
when  I  saw  you  in  private.  Having  therefore,  in  the 
beginning  of  my  letter,  paid  the  proj^er  compliment  to 
the  chief-magistrate  of  the  city  of  London  ;  I  shall 
conclude,  as  formerly,  dear  sir,  your  very  humble 
servant,  James  Boswell." 

To  the  Same. 

"  Saturc%,  April  20,  1776. 

"  My  dear  Sir, — I  came  up  from  North  Britain 
some  weeks  ago ;  but  I  was  hardly  arrived,  when  Dr. 
Johnson  carried  me  with  him  on  a  jaunt  to  Oxford, 
Lichfield  (his  native  city),  and  Derbyshire,  so  that  I  w\as 
like  a  sailor  who  has  come  oj6f  a  long  voyage,  and  is 
pressed  in  the  harbour  ;  only  that  I  was  a  volunteer 
under  an  illustrious  philosophical  commander.  Since 
my  return  to  the  metropolis  I  have  been  so  dissipated, 
that  I  have  not  had  the  pleasure  of  being  with  you,  my 
classical  friend  :  for  though  we  difier  widely  in  religion 
and  politics,  il  y  a  des  points  oic  nos  ames  sont  unies,  as 
Eousseau  said  to  me  in  his  wild  retreat. 

"  I  am  delighted  to  find  that  my  honoured  friend 
and  Mecsenas,  my  Lord  Mountstuart,  made  an  excellent 
speech  on  the  Scotch  militia  bill ;  and  I  am  peculiarly 
delighted  to  hear  that  you  gave  him  lively  applause. 
J^t  tu,  Brute  ?  may  be  applied  to  you  in  an  amiable 
sense  here.     Will  you  make  me  happy,  by  telling  me 


264  LIFE  OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

yourself  Iioav  well  you  liketl  it  ?  If  you  knew  his  noble- 
ness of  soul  as  well  as  I  do,  you  would  almost  allow  him 
to  be  a  prince  of  high  prerogative ;  because  it  would  be 
only  allowing  a  large  power  of  doing  good,  where  there 
is  a  large  inclination, 

"  Will  you  please  to  let  me  know  what  morning  I 
can  drink  chocolate  at  an  hour  of  luxurious  leisure  ?  for 
I  would  not  intrude  upon  your  seasons  of  business. 

"  I  always  am,  as  when  in  the  elysium  of  Italy,  dear 
sir,  yours,  with  sincere  good  wishes,  James  Boswell." 

The  two  friends  would  "  banter  "  each  other  in  rather 
rough  fashion. 

"  I  mentioned  my  having  been  in  Tothill  Fields 
Bridewell ;  how  the  keeper  had  let  me  in,  &c.  WilJces. 
'1  don't  wonder  at  your  getting  in,  but  that  you 
got  out.'  Boswell.  'Oh  no,  I  have  no  propensity  to  be 
a  jail-bird ;  I  never  had  the  honour  you  have  had  [he 
looking  a  little  disconcerted,  as  the  pill  rather  too 
strong] — I  mean  being  Lord  Mayor  of  London ;  I  mean 
the  golden  chain.  I  never  had  the  honour  to  have  ii 
chain  of  any  sort.'  " 

And  again:  "At  Mr.  Aubrey's,  19th  April,  Wilkes 
and  I  hard  at  it.  I  warm  on  monarchy.  '  Po,  your'n 
old  Tory.'  Bosivell.  '  And  you're  a  new  Tory.  Let  that 
stand  for  that.'  "     This  seems  feeble  enough. 

He  was  now  carrying  on  a  flirtation  with  Mrs.  Stuart^ 
the  wife  of  his  friend.  Colonel  Stuart,  and  which  is 
amusingly  described.  His  friend.  Captain  Stuart,  was 
brother  to  his  supposed  patron,  Lord  Mountstuart, 
"  whose  brother's  lady,  a  sweet,  handsome,  lively  little 
woman,  is  my  wife's  intimate  friend  :  I  pass  many  of 
my  morning  hours  with  her." 

Both  the   Cnptain  and   his  lady  must  have  found 


WILKES — FLIR  TA  TION — "  JUNKETINGS^  2  G  5 

iiiimeiise  entertainment  in  the  extravagance  of  their 
friend.  Once,  Lord  Mountstuart  havino-  remarked  that 
Boswell  was  like  Charles  Fox,  the  Colonel  said  bluntly, 
"  You  are  much  uHier."  Boswell,  writino-  down  the 
incident,  said,  with  his  sly  drollery:  "I  turned  to 
liim  full  as  sly  and  droll.  '  Does  your  wife  think  so. 
Colonel  James  ? '  Young  Burke  said,  '  Here  was  less 
meant  than  meets  the  ear.'"  AVe  can  fancy  the  amuse- 
ment this  facetiousness  must  have  caused  the  trio. 

It  must  be  said,  however,  tliat  both  husband  and 
wife  encourao;ed  Mr.  Boswell's  attentions.  The  next 
scene  is  a  curious  one. 

"  I  passed  a  delightful  day  yesterday.  After  break- 
fasting with  Paoli  and  worshipping  at  St.  Paul's,  I  dined 
tete-Ct-UUe  with  my  charming  Mrs.  Stuart,  of  whom  you 
have  read  in  my  Journal.  She  refused  to  be  of  a  party 
at  Richmond,  that  she  and  I  might  enjoy  a  farewell 
interview.  We  dined  in  all  the  eleoance  of  two  courses 
and  a  dessert,  with  dumb  waiters,  except  when  the 
second  course  and  the  dessert  were  served.  We  talked 
with  unreserved  freedom,  as  Ave  had  nothing  to  fear ;  we 
were  philosopliical,  upon  honour — not  deep,  but  feeling 
we  were  pious  ;  we  drank  tea,  and  bid  each  other  adieu 
as  purely  as  romance  paints.  She  is  my  wife's  dearest 
friend,  so  you  see  how  beautiful  our  intimacy  is." 

Colonel  Stuart  had  been  recruiting  in  Scotland,  and 
now"  invited  Boswell  to  travel  with  him  to  Leeds,  thence 
on  to  London,  and  to  other  places  with  the  regiment. 

Delighted  at  this  new  excursion,  he  came  up  to 
London  on  October  4th,  1779,  setting  out  with  the  Colonel 
for  Chester  towards  the  end  of  the  month.  The  irre- 
pressible Boswell,  on  his  way  to  the  North,  noted  that 
the  handsome  chambermaid  "  was  gone  from  the  inn." 
lie  found,  however,  that  "there  is  a  Miss  Silverton  in  the 


2G()  LIFE  OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

fly  witli  mc  ;  an  amiable  creature,  who  has  been  in 
France.  /  can  tuiite  little  fondnesses  ivitli  2^<i'>^fict  con- 
jugal love."  They  were  to  pass  through  Lichfield,  and 
here  the  good-natured  fellow  determined  to  see  every 
one  of  Johnson's  friends,  and  write  to  him  everything 
that  could  interest  him.  With  what  zeal  and  good- will 
he  executed  his  mission  will  be  seen  from  his  vivacious 
letter.  There  is  a  pleasant  gaiety  and  satisfaction  in 
the  report. 

"  Chester,  October  22,  1779. 

"  My  dear  Sir, — It  Avas  not  till  one  o'clock  on 
Monday  morning  that  Colonel  Stuart  and  I  left  London; 
for  we  chose  to  bid  a  cordial  adieu  to  Lord  Mountstuart, 
who  was  to  set  out  on  that  day  on  his  embassy  to  Turin. 
We  drove  on  excellently,  and  reached  Lichfield  in  good 
time  enough  that  night.  The  Colonel  had  heard  so  pre- 
ferable a  character  of  the  George,  that  he  would  not  put 
up  at  the  Three  Crowns,*  so  that  I  did  not  see  our  host, 
AVilkins.  AVe  found  at  the  George  as  good  accommo- 
dations as  we  could  wish  to  have,  and  1  fully  enjoyed 

*  Xot  long  since  I  read  this  advertisement : — 

"FREEHOLD  INVESTMENT, 

Lichfield, 

TO  BE  SOLD  BY  AUCTION, 

*  *  *  * 

at 

The  "THREE  CROWNS"  Hotel,   Lichfield, 

On  Thursday,  the  20th  day  of  October,  1887, 

The  large,  substantially  built,  and   commodious 

DWELLING  HOUSE 

"vvith 

DRAPER'S  SHOP, 

Situate  in  the  Market-place." 

The  house  so  lightly  mentioned  was  Dr.  Johnson's. 


WILKES — FLIR  TA  TION — "  JUNKETINGS."  207 

the  comfortable  tliouglit  tliat  /  ivas  in  LlcJiJiehl  again. 
Next  morning  it  rained  very  hard,  and  as  I  had  much  to 
do  in  a  little  time,  I  ordered  a  post-chaise,  and  between 
eio-ht  and  nine  sallied  forth  to  make  a  round  of  visits. 
I  first  went  to  Mr.  Green,  hoping  to  have  had  him  to 
accompany  mc  to  all  my  other  friends,  but  he  was 
engaged  to  attend  the  Bishop  of  Sodor  and  Man,  who 
was  then  lying  at  Lichfield  very  ill  of  the  gout.  Having 
taken  a  hasty  glance  at  the  additions  to  Green's  museum, 
from  which  it  was  not  easy  to  1)reak  away,  I  next  went 
to  the  Friery,  where  I  at  first  occasioned  some  tumult  in 
the  ladies,  who  were  not  prepared  to  receive  company  so 
early:  but  my  name,  which  has  by  wonderful  felicity 
come  to  be  closely  associated  with  yours,  soon  made  all 
easy ;  and  Mrs.  Cobb  and  ]\Irs.  Adey  re-assumed  their 
seats  at  the  breakfast  table,  which  they  had  quitted  with 
some  precipitation.  They  received  me  with  the  kindness 
of  an  old  acquaintance ;  and  after  we  had  joined  in  a 
cordial  chorus  to  your  praise,  Mrs.  Cobb  gave  me  the 
high  satisfaction  of  hearing  that  you  said,  '  Boswell  is  a 
man  who,  I  believe,  never  left  a  house  without  leaving  a 
wish  for  his  return.'  And  she  afterwards  added,  that  she 
bid  you  tell  me,  that  if  ever  I  came  to  Lichfield,  she 
hoped  I  would  take  a  bed  at  the  Friery.  From  thence 
I  drove  to  Peter  Garrick's,  where  I  also  found  a  very 
fiattering  welcome.  He  appeared  to  me  to  enjoy  his 
usual  cheerfulness  ;  and  he  very  kindly  asked  me  to  come 
when  I  could,  and  pass  a  week  with  him.  From  Mr. 
Garrick's,  I  went  to  the  Palace  to  wait  on  Mr.  Seward. 
I  was  first  entertained  by  his  lady  and  daughter,  he  him- 
self being  in  bed  with  a  cold,  according  to  his  valetudi- 
nary custom.  But  he  desired  to  see  me,  and  I  found 
him  dressed  in  his  black  gown,  with  a  white  flannel 
night-gown  above  it,  so  that  he  looked  like  a  Dominican 


-G8  LIFE  OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

friar.  He  was  good-humoured  and  polite  ;  and  under 
liis  roof,  too,  my  reception  was  very  pleasing.  I  then 
proceeded  to  Stow-hill,  and  first  paid  my  respects  to 
Mrs.  Gastrell,  whose  conversation  I  was  not  willino-  to 
quit.  But  my  sand-glass  was  now  beginning  to  run  low, 
as  I  could  not  trespass  too  long  on  the  Colonel's  kind- 
ness, who  obligingly  waited  for  me  ;  so  I  hastened  to 
Mrs.  Aston's,  whom  I  found  much  better  than  I  feared  I 
should,  and  there  I  met  a  brother-in-law  of  these  ladies, 
who  talked  much  of  you,  and  very  well,  too,  as  it 
appeared  to  me.  It  then  only  remained  to  visit  Mrs. 
Lucy  Porter,  which  I  did,  I  really  believe,  with  sincere 
satisfaction  on  both  sides.  I  am  sure  I  was  glad  to  see . 
her  again;  and,  as  I  take  her  to  be  very  honest,  I  trust 
she  was  glad  to  see  me  again  ;  for  she  expressed  herself 
so,  that  I  could  not  doul)t  of  her  being  in  earnest.  What 
a-  great  key-stone  of  kindness,  my  dear  Sir,  were  you 
that  morning  !  for  we  were  all  held  together  by  our 
common  attachment  to  you.  I  cannot  say  that  I  ever 
passed  two  hours  with  more  self-complacency  than  I  did 
those  two  at  Lichfield.  Let  me  not  entertain  any  sus- 
picion that  this  is  idle  vanity.  AVill  not  you  confirm  me 
in  my  persuasion,  that  he  who  finds  himself  so  regarded 
has  just  reason  to  be  happy  ? 

"We  got  to  Chester  about  midnight  on  Tuesday  ;  and 
here  again  I  am  in  a  state  of  much  enjoyment.  Colonel 
Stuart  and  all  his  officers  treat  me  with  all  the  civility  I 
could  wish;  and  I  play  my  part  admirably.  Lcetus  aliis, 
sapiens  sihi,  the  classical  sentence  which  you,  I  imagine^ 
invented  the  other  day,  is  exemplified  in  my  present 
existence.  The  Bishop,  to  whom  I  had  the  honour  to  be 
known  several  years  ago,  shews  me  much  attention,  and 
I  am  edified  by  his  conversation.  I  must  not  omit  to- 
tell  you,  that  his  Lordship   admires,  very  highlj^,  your 


WJL  KES—FLIIi  TA  TION — "JUNKETINGS."  201) 

Prefaces  to  tlie  Poets.  I  am  daily  obtaining  an  extension 
of  agreeable  acquaintance,  so  that  I  am  kept  in  animated 
variety  ;  and  the  study  of  the  place  itself,  by  the  assist- 
ance of  Ijooks,  and  of  the  Bishop,  is  sufficient  occupation. 
Chester  pleases  my  fancy  more  than  any  town  I  ever 
saw.     But  I  will  not  enter  upon  it  at  all  in  this  letter. 

"  How  long  I  shall  stay  here  I  cannot  yet  say.  I 
told  a  very  pleasing  young  lady,  niece  to  one  of  the  Pre- 
bendaries, at  whose  house  I  saw  her,  'I  have  come  to 
Chester,  Madam,  I  cannot  tell  how ;  and  far  less  can  I 
tell  how  1  am  to  get  away  from  it.'  Do  not  think  me 
too  juvenile." 

The  doctor  was,  naturally,  pleased  with  such  a 
display  of  good-natured  zeal,  and  wrote  his  friend  some 
hearty  compliments,  telling  him  that  "  he  was  a  man 
who  found  himself  w^elcomed  wherever  he  went,  and 
made  new  friends  faster  than  he  could  want  them." 
Boswell,  in  reply,  descril)ed  all  his  adventures  at  Chester, 
of  which  he  had  kept  a  journal.  He  there  got  acquainted 
with  Archdeacon  Law — a  man,  he  believed,  "  of  yqvj 
sincere  ndigion."  "  I  received  the  Holy  Sacrament  at 
the  Cathedral  (in  Carlisle),  this  being  the  first  Sunday  in 
the  month,  and  was  there  in  the  morning.  It  is  divinely 
cheerful  to  think  there  is  a  Cathedral  so  near  Auchiuleck; 
and  now  leave  Eng-land  in  such  a  state  of  mind  as  I  am 
thankfid  to  God  for."  Johnson  good-naturedly  ban- 
tered him  on  his  extravagance.  "  How  near  is  the 
Cathedral  to  Auchinleck,  that  you  are  so  much  delighted 
with  it  ?  It  is,  I  suppose,  at  least  a  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  away."  When  he  got  home,  he  was  again  afflicted 
by  a  black  day,  and  pressed  by  difficulties ;  and  he  began 
to  harass  his  friend  anew. 

On  March  19,  1781,  Boswell  once  more  arrived  in 
London,  being  brought  thither  by  the  business  of  having 


270  LIFE  OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

to  appear  on  an  election  petition,  being  engaged  for  the 
sitting  member  of  his  own  county.  As  he  was  walking 
down  Fleet  Street  he  came  full  upon  his  friend,  rolling 
on  his  course  in  his  usual  fashion.  Mr.  Thrale  shortly 
after  died,  after  having  been  moved  to  a  house  in 
Grosvenor  Square — "  I  suppose  by  the  solicitations  of 
Mrs.  Thrale,"  adds  Boswell,  rather  uncharitably.  Then 
followed  the  usual  round  of  dinners  and  entertainments, 
among  which  Boswell  supplies  us  with  one  of  his  grace- 
fully sympathetic  pictures,  full  of  feeling  :  the  account 
of  Mrs.  Garrick's  first  dinner  in  the  Adelphi,  after  the 
death  of  her  husband,  Avith  their  walking  on  the  Adelphi 
Terrace,  which  is  one  of  the  most  picturesque  pieces  in 
his  journal.'" 

"  The  company  gradually  dropped  away.  Mr.  Dilly 
himself  was  called  down  upon  business  ;  I  left  the  room 
for  some  time.  When  I  returned,  I  was  struck  by 
observing  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  and  John  AVilkes,  Esq., 
literally  tMe-d-tcte :  for  they  were  reclined  upon  their 
chairs,  w^ith  their  heads  leaning  almost  close  to  each  other, 
and  talking  earnestly,  as  in  a  kind  of  confidential 
whisper,  of  the  personal  quarrel  between  George  II.  and 
the  King  of  Prussia.  Such  a  scene  of  perfectly  easy 
sociality  between  two  such  opponents  would  have  been' 
an  excellent  subject  for  a  picture.  It  presented  to  my 
mind  the  happy  days  which  are  foretold  in  Scripture,' 
when  the  lion  shall  lie  down  with  the  lamb." 

During  all  this  social  enjoyment  and  round  of 
parties,  the  bottle  was  circulated,  and  our  hero,  carried 
away  by  his  spirits,  was  sometimes  tempted  into  excess. 

*  There  is  always  this  embarrassment  in  giving  an  account  of 
Boswell's  life  and  character,  that,  to  do  him  full  justice,  one  must 
draw  largely  on  his  great  book,  which,  is  yet  so  familiar  to  all 
readers. 


WILKES  —FLIR  TA  TION—"  JUNKETING  Sr  271 

Indeed,  iit  tins  time  we  have  certain  symptoms  of  tlioso 
liabits  which  eventually  cut  short  his  life.  He  has  been 
much  ridiculed  for  the  scene  of  intoxication  which, 
with  such  curious  insensibility,  he  describes  in  the 
"Tour." 

"  I  had  dined  at  the  Duke  of  Montrose's  with  a  very 
agreeable  party,  and  his  Grace,  according  to  his  usual 
custom,  had  circulated  the  bottle  very  freely.  Lord 
Graham  and  T  went  together  to  Miss  Monckton's,  where 
I  certainly  was  in  extraordinary  spirits,  and  above  all 
fear  or  awe.  In  the  midst  of  a  great  number  of 
persons  of  the  first  rank,  amongst  whom  I  recollect, 
with  confusion,  a  noble  lady  of  the  most  stately 
decorum,  I  placed  myself  next  to  Johnson,  and  think- 
ing myself  now  fully  his  match,  talked  to  him  in  a 
loud  and  boisterous  manner,  desirous  to  let  the  com- 
pany know  how  I  could  contend  with  Ajax.  I  par- 
ticularly remember  pressing  him  upon  the  value  of  the 
pleasures  of  the  imagination,  and  as  an  illustration  of 
my  argument,  asking  him,  '  What,  Sir,  supposing  I 
were  to  fancy  that  the (naming  the  most  charm- 
ing Duchess  in  his  Majesty's  dominions)  were  in  love 
with  me,  should  I  not  be  very  happy  1 '  My  friend,  with 
much  address,  evaded  my  interrogatories,  and  kept  me 
as  quiet  as  possible ;  but  it  may  easily  be  conceived 
how  he  must  have  felt. 

"Next  day,"  he  tells  us,  "I  endeavoured  to  give 
what  had  happened  the  most  ingenious  turn  I  could, 
l)y  the  following  verses  : — 

"  TO  THE  HONOURABLE  MISS  MONCKTON. 

"Not  that  with  th'  excellent  Monti'ose 
I  had  the  happiness  to  dine  ; 
Not  that  I  late  from  dinner  rose. 

From  Graham's  wit,  from  generons  wine." — Etc. 


272  ,  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

There  are  other  signs  of  Boswell's  growing  indul- 
gence in  wine.  He  does  not  so  reguhirly  mark  the 
days  with  his  usual  accuracy,  nor  does  he  enumerate  the 
guests  so  fully.  About  a  week  before  this  indecorous 
exhibition,  he  "  dined  with  Johnson  at  a  Bishop's," 
whose  name  for  some  reason  he  omits,  and  adds,  inno- 
cently enough,  "  I  have  unfortunately  recorded  none 
of  the  conversation."  Unfortunate  it  was  ;  for  on 
this  occasion,  also,  ]Mr.  Bos  well,  his  episcopal  host 
uotwithstandino',  exhibited  himself  in  a  state  of  otoss  in- 
toxication.  It  happened  that  the  good  Mrs.  Hannah 
]\Iore  was  of  this  party,  and  she  records,  "  I  was  much 
disgusted  with  ]\Ir.  Boswell,  who  came  up  after  dinner 
much  disordered  with  wine."  This,  then,  was  the 
reason  for  his  suppressing  the  bishop's  name,  as  well 
as  for  his  having  "unfortunately"  found  it  impossible 
to  recall  the  conversation. 

On  June- 5,  1781,  after  going  to  see  Lord  Bute's 
seat  at  Luton,  Boswell  took  leave  of  his  friend  imtil 
March  in  the  following  year.  There  is  a  complete 
silence  between  the  friends,  and  Johnson,  who  was 
much  ailing,  does  not  appear  to  have  written  him  a 
single  letter.  Boswell  was  now  in  greater  embarrass- 
ments than  usual,  but  was  characteristically  thinking  of 
borrowing  a  sum  of  money  to  bring  him  to  London  ! 
Lord  North's  ministry  had  fallen,  and  as  it  was  likely 
that  the  Opposition  would  "  come  in,"  his  head  was 
full  of  a  scheme  for  obtaining  some  lucrative  employ- 
ment.    Johnson  wrote  to  moderate  these  wild  dreams. 

"  If  you  want  to  know  what  you  shall  do  now,  I 
don't  think  this  time  of  bustle  and  confusion  like  to 
produce  any  advantage  to  you.  Every  man  has  those 
to  rew^ard  and  gratify  who  have  contributed  to  his  ad- 
vancement.    To  come  hither  with  such  expectations  at 


WILKES — FLIRTATION — "JUNKETINGS."  273 

tlic  expense  of  borrowed  money,  which,  I  find,  you 
know  not  where  to  borrow,  can  hardly  be  considered 
prudent.  I  am  sorry  to  find,  wliat  your  solicitations 
.seem  to  imply,  that  you  have  (dready  gone  the  whole 
length  of  your  credit.  This  is  to  set  the  quiet  of  your 
whole  life  at  hazard.  If  you  anticipate  your  inherit- 
ance, you  can  at  last  inherit  nothing ;  all  that  you 
receive  must  pay  for  the  past.  You  must  get  a  place, 
or  2^iiie  in  penury,  with  the  empty  name  of  a  great 
estate.  Poverty,  my  dear  friend,  is  so  great  an  evil, 
and  pregnant  with  so  much  temptation,  and  so  much 
misery,  that  I  cannot  but  earnestly  enjoin  you  to  avoid 
it.  Live  on  what  you  have ;  live  if  you  can  on  less ; 
do  not  borrow  either  for  vanity  or  pleasure  ;  the  vanity 
will  end  in  shame,  and  the  pleasure  in  regret :  stay 
therefore  at  home,  till  you  have  saved  money  for  your 
journey  thither." 


VOL.  I. 


274  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

POLITICS  — DEATH    OF   DR.    JOHNSON. 
1782. 

Lord  Auchinleck  had  been  in  failing  healtli,  and  for 
some  time  liad  shown  symptoms  of  mental  decay.  These 
took  the  shape  of  an  iteration  of  his  old  stories,  which  he 
would  introduce  without  d  propos,  or  connection,  much 
like  the  late  Mr.  Eogers.  In  this  sad  state  he  would 
sit  and  vote  on  the  Bench,  which,  as  his  old  friend 
Ramsay  says,  was  thought  improj)er.  His  son  fancied 
that  this  unhappy  state  of  things  "  would  not  go  on  for 
long."  He  was  away  on  a  visit  at  Sir  Charles  Preston's, 
when  he  was  recalled  by  an  express  with  news  that  his 
father  was  dying.  He  appears  to  have  arrived  too  late 
' — at  least,  he  leaves  the  matter  a  little  indistinct. 
This  event  took  place  on  August  20,  1782.* 

The  old  judge  was  much  lamented  down  at  his  own 
place,  Auchinleck,  where  he  had  been  long  known  and 
esteemed ;  and  the  worthy  minister  of  the  parish,  Mr. 

*  "August  20fch,  at  Edinburgh,  aged  7Q,  Alex.  Boswell,  Esq., 
of  Auchinleck,  one  of  the  Senators  of  the  College  of  Justice,  and 
many  years  one  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  Justiciary,  which 
last  office  lie  resigned,  when  the  state  of  his  health  made  it  im- 
proper for  him  any  longer  to  undergo  its  fatigues.  He  was  the 
father  of  James  Boswell,  Esq.,  the  Corsican  traveller." 


POLITICS— DEATH    OF  DR.   JOHNSON.  275 

Dun,  preached  a  special  Bermoii  on  "August  28, 
1782,  being  the  Sabbath  after  the  funeral,"  in  wliich  he 
bewailed  and  praised  his  patron  in  feeling  terms.  "  He 
was  knowinc:  n.ud  learned  without  self-conceit.  He  was 
strictly  religious,  but  his  religion  was  consistent.  .  .  . 
He  highly  esteemed  the  clergy,  and  he  took  a  share  in 
the  government  of  the  national  Church.  As  a  judge, 
his  diligence,  knowledge,  integrity,  and  despatch  is 
written  in  the  records  of  more  courts  than  one,  and 
in  the  hearts  of  thousands.  I  have  met  with  stransrers 
who,  upon  my  mentioning  the  name  of  Auchinleck,  as 
ix  direction  to  me,  have  shown  me  kindness  for  my 
worthy  patron's  sake."  * 

"  I  need  not  tell  you,  my  hearers,  of  his  benignity  to 
his  tenants,  when  old  age  and  poverty  has  overtaken 
some  of  you  he  has  given  you  an  inheritance  for  life. 
He  always  preferred  the  sober  tenant  to  the  stranger, 
and,  to  my  certain  knowledge,  in  every  instance  when 
he  found  the  old  tenant,  he  accepted  of  the  lower  rent. 
His  servants  he  changed  not  while  they  could  serve, 
and  when  they  could  not,  he  provided  for  them."  This 
natural  and  genuine  panegyric  is  a  pleasing  tribute  to 
the  merits  of  the  departed  judge. 

Johnson,  indeed,  seems  to  have  had  misgivings  as 
to  the  effect  of  this  new  elevation  on  his  protege,  and 
gave  him  valuable  and  wholesome  advice,  begging  him 
to  be  moderate  and  restrained,  and  not  launch  out  in 

*  He  adds  this  note :  "  Oh  !  this  was  written  September  12, 
1788.  1  copy  this  with  weeping  eyes  and  with  a  melting,  bleed- 
ing heart.  He  once  was  my  friend  who  trusted  in  me,  and  I 
hope  never  was  deceived.  I  lay  down  my  pen  to  take  up  my 
handJcercMef.  1  Aveep  not  for  him,  but  for  myself  and  many 
others.  I  write  and  weep  again  !  O  Death,  what  evil  hast  thou 
done  !  Whence  camest  thou  ?  The  burning  candle  is  a  proper 
emblem  of  his  Lordship,  who  kept  his  station,  was  useful  in  it, 
wasted  gradually,  and  at  the  end  of  seventy-five  years  expired." 


276  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

expense,  under  tlie  delusion  that  he  had  "  come  into  " 
a  Large  fortune.  Of  these  counsels  the  "  Laird  of 
Auchinleck  "  seems  to  have  taken  little  heed  ;  in  a  few 
years  the  forecasts  of  the  sagacious  Johnson  were  more 
than  verified,  though  he  did  not  live  to  see  his  friend 
sunk  in  debt  and  difficulties  of  all  kinds. 

In  a  week  or  so  after  his  father's  funeral  the  new 
laird  had  actually  proposed  setting  off  to  join  his 
friend,  a  step  to  which  Johnson  properly  objected. 
Mr.  Boswell  then  remained  wholly  silent  for  some 
months,  though  the  sage  had  held  out  the  prospect  of 
a  second  visit  to  Auchinleck,  under  newer  and  more 
favourable  conditions. 


Bosivell  to  Wilkes. 

"Edinburgh,  February  14,  1783. 

"  Dear  Sie, — I  did  expect  that  before  now  you 
would  have  sent  me  a  peace-offering  of  wit,  for  having 
put  one  in  fear  of  Dr.  Johnson's  anger  at  Mr.  Dilly's. 
But  the  good  and  hospitable  bookseller  informs  me  that 
the  Chamberlain  of  the  city  of  London  insists  that  he  is 
entitled  to  hear  first  from  the  Laird  of  Auchinleck.  I 
therefore  now  demand  what  we  in  the  law  language 
call  a  solatium,  not  of  shining  ore,  but  of  brilliant 
pleasantry. 

"  As  I  am  now  Master  of  Auchinleck,  of  which  we 
have  often  talked,  I  hope  you  will  venture  to  pay  it  a 
visit ;  I  will  insure  your  safety.  I  hope  to  be  with  you 
in  London  next  month,  when  we  shall  settle  the  time. 
In  Sir  Alexander  Dick's  large  collection  of  letters  from 
eminent  and  ingenious  men,  to  which  I  have  free  access, 
I  find  a  great  many  from  Dr.  Armstrong,  some  of  which 
are  very  good.     It  is  curious  to  observe  with  what  fond 


POLITICS — DEATH   OF  DR.    JOHNSON.  277 

praise  lie  writes  of  you  at  one  period,  and  with  what 
iitribilious  rage  at  another.  Sir  Alexander,  who  is  now 
in  his  eightieth  year,  is  very  little  changed  from  what 
you  have  seen  him.  He  remembers  you  with  lively 
pleasure.  Do  answer  my  demand  without  delay.  You 
deserve  no  days  of  grace.  Pray  make  my  compliments 
iiccejDtable  to  Miss  Wilkes,  and  believe  me  to  be,  dear 
Sir,  most  socially  yours,  James  Boswell."  * 

In  March,  1783,  he  arrived  in  town,  as  "Laird  of 
Auchinleck,"  and  found  his  friend  in  a  sad  state  of 
.suffering.  The  old,  pleasant  talks  and  meetings  were, 
in  fact,  about  to  close,  and  Johnson's  last  illness  had 
actually  begun.  He  was  in  a  state,  too,  of  fretful  irrita- 
tion, as  when  a  gentleman  asked  him,  "  Had  he  been 
abroad  that  day  ?  "  he  replied,  "  Don't  talk  so  childishly; 
you  may  as  well  ask  if  I  hanged  myself  to-day." 
Changing  the  subject,  Boswell  mentioned  politics ;  the 
ixnswer  was  :  "  Sir,  I'd  as  soon  have  a  man  to  break  my 
bones  as  to  talk  to  me  of  public  affairs."  The  "  gentle- 
man "  was  Boswell  himself  I  fancy  I  see  little  touches 
here  and  there  in  the  chronicle  which  show  that  the 
laird  was  a  little  exalted  by  his  new  dignity. 

Having  remained  in  town  for  over  two  months, 
jNIr.  Boswell  set  out  for  Scotland  on  May  30th.  The 
night  before,  he  made  his  friend  this  affectionate  speech : 
^'  I  assured  him  that  in  the  whole  range  of  his  acquaint- 
ance there  never  had  been  any  one  who  had  a  more 
sincere  respect  and  affection  for  him  than  I  had.  He 
said,  '  I  believe  it,  sir.  Were  I  in  distress,  there  is  no 
man  I  would  sooner  come  to  than  to  you.  I  should 
like  to  come  and  have  a  cottage  in  your  park,  toddle 
about,  live  mostly  on  milk,  and  be  taken  care  of  by  Mrs. 
Boswell'     He  embraced  me,  and  gave  me  his  blessing, 

*  MS.,  Britisli  Museum. 


278  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

as  usual  wlien  I  was  leaving  liim  for  any  length  of  time. 
I  walked  from  liis  door  to-day  with  a  fearful  apprehen- 
sion of  what  might  happen  before  I  returned." 

Unhappily,  these  forebodings  were  to  be  justified ; 
within  less  than  a  month  Johnson  was  seized  with  a 
paralytic  stroke,  from  which,  however,  he  recovered. 
With  that  curious  fitfulness  which  so  contrasts  with  his 
professions,  Boswell  seems  to  have  grown  rather  neglect- 
ful;  at  least,  Ave  find  Johnson  reproaching  him — "You 
should  not  make  your  letters  such  rarities."  The  truth 
was  Mr.  Boswell  was  now  so  engrossed  with  politics, 
and  dreams  of  becomino-  n,  leadino-  man  in  his  countv, 
that  he  had  little  time  for  corresj)ondence.  The  death 
of  his  father,  and  his  new  position  of  responsibility  seem 
to  have  engendered  in  that  busy  soul  quite  a  new 
train  of  ambitious  projects,  and  he  began  to  think  he 
might  fairly  look  for  political  advancement,  a  seat  in 
the  House  of  Commons,  or  a  place  [under  Government, 
etc.  From  this  date  there  is  a  general  change  in  the 
direction  of  his  views ;  and  it  would  almost  seem  that 
he  relaxed  somewhat  in  his  assiduous  attendance  on  his 
srreat  friend.  With  much  satisfaction  he  wrote  to 
him  that  "  the  gentlemen  of  the  county  had  at  two 
public  meetings  appointed  me  their  Prceses,  or  Chair- 
man." He  also  lamented  the  way  in  which  he  wa& 
neglected  by  his  patrons  in  power.  Johnson  sent  him 
this  rather  sarcastic  consolation  :  "  Like  all  other  men 
who  have  great  friends,  you  begin  to  feel  the  pangs  of 
neglected  merit ;  and  all  the  comfort  I  can  give  you  is, 
by  telling  you  that  you  have  more  pangs  to  feel  and 
more  neglect  to  suffer."  He  significantly  hoped,  though 
he  did  not  seem  to  believe,  that  he  was  the  only  confi- 
dant of  these  repinings.  He  advised  him  strongly  tO' 
attend  to  his  estate,  and  leave  these  matters  alone. 


POLITICS — DEATH  OF  Dli.   JOHNSON.  279 

Boswell,  however,  was  not  inclined  to  follow  this 
sound  advice.  With  his  new  lairdship,  a  passion  for 
"coming  forward  in  politics"  had  seized  on  him.  No 
man  was  so  persistent  as  Boswell  in  trying  to  obtain 
})romotion  or  advancement,  but  he  was,  unfortunately, 
always  unlucky.  He  attached  himself  to  a  series  of 
patrons,  though  they  appear  to  have  done  little  for 
him.  But  Mr.  Dundas,  Sir  James  Lowther,  Lord  Mount- 
stuart,  "my  Mecsenas,"  and  many  more,  were  persistently 
"  invoked,"  as  he  called  it,  and  with  little  result,  save 
that  of  many  hopes  held  out,  and  some  promises,  all  to 
end  in  disappointment.  It  is  not  known  how  he  con- 
trived to  secure  the  friendly  patronage  of  Burke.  In 
JMarch,  1778,  he  had  addressed  to  him  a  letter  from 
Edinburgh,  in  familiar  and  jocose  strain,  but  hinting 
clearly  enough  that  Mr.  Burke  was  a  man  to  whom 
patronage  might  one  day  come. 

Bosivell  to  Mr.  Burh\ 

"Dear  Sir,"  he  wrote, — "  Upon  my  honour  I  began 
letter  to  you  some  time  ago,  and  did  not  finish  it  be- 
cause I  imagined  you  were  then  near  your  apotheosis, 
as  poor  Goldsmith  said  upon  a  former  occasion,  when  he 
thought  your  party  was  coming  into  administration  ; 
and  being  one  of  our  old  Barons  of  Scotland,  my  pride 
could  not  brook  the  appearance  of  paying  my  court  to  a 
minister  amongst  the  crowd  of  interested  expectants 
on  his  accession.  At  present,  I  take  it  for  granted  that 
I  need  be  under  no  such  apprehension,  and  therefore  I 
resume  the  indulgence  of  my  inclination.  This  may  be, 
perhaps,  a  singular  method  of  beginning  a  correspond- 
ence, and  in  one  sense  may  not  be  complimentative. 
But  I  can  sincerely  assure  you,  dear  sir,  that  I  feel  and 
mean  a  genuine  compliment  to  Mr.  Burke  himself.     It 


280  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

is  generally  thouglit  no  meanness  to  solicit  the  notice 
and  favour  of  a  man  in  power ;  and  surely  it  is  much 
less  a  meanness  to  endeavour  by  honest  means  to  have 
the  honour  and  pleasure  of  being  on  an  agreeable  foot- 
ing with  a  man  of  superior  knowledge,  abilities,  and 
genius. 

"  I  have  to  thank  you  for  the  obligations  which  you 
have  already  conferred  upon  me,  by  the  welcome  Avhich 
I  have,  upon  repeated  occasions,  experienced  under  your 
roof.  When  I  was  last  in  London  you  gave  me  a 
general  invitation,  which  I  value  more  than  a  Treasury 
warrant : — an  invitation  to  '  the  feast  of  reason,'  and, 
what  I  like  still  more,  '  the  flow  of  soul,'  which  you 
dispense  with  liberal  and  elegant  abundance,  is,  in  my 
estimation,  a  privilege  of  enjoying  certain  felicity;  and 
we  know  that  riches  and  honour  are  desirable  only  as 
means  to  felicity,  and  that  they  often  fail  of  the  end. 

"Most  heartily  do  I  rejoice  that  our  present 
ministers  have  at  last  yielded  to  conciliation.  For 
amidst  all  the  sanguinary  zeal  of  my  countrymen,  I  have 
professed  myself  a  friend  to  our  fellow-subjects  in 
America,  so  far  as  they  claim  an  exemption  from  being 
taxed  by  the  representatives  of  the  King's  British 
subjects.  I  do  not  perfectly  agree  with  you ;  for  I  deny 
the  Declaratory  Act,  and  I  am  a  warm  Tory  in  its  true 
constitutional  sense.  I  wish  I  were  a  commissioner,  or 
one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  commission  for  the  jxrand 
treaty.  I  am  to  be  in  London  this  spring,  and  if  his 
Majesty  should  ask  me  what  I  would  choose,  my  answer 
will  be,  to  assist  in  the  compact  between  Britain  and 
America.  May  I  beg  to  hear  from  you,  and  in  the 
meantime  to  have  my  compliments  made  acceptable  to 
Mrs.  Burke  ? — I  am,  dear  sir,  your  most  obedient, 
humble  servant,  James  Boswell." 


FOLITICS — DEATH   OF  DR.   JOHNSON.  281 

It  was  in  Boswell's  favour  that  be  slioukl  liave 
enlisted  the  interest  of  such  a  man.  On  a  hiter 
occasion,  he  had  in  view  the  office  of  Judge  Advocate, 
and  here  Burke  lent  him  his  "friendly  aid."  Poor 
Boswell,  however,  failed  in  this,  as  he  was  to  do  in  so 
many  other  ventures ;  for  the  more  powerful  interest  of 
the  Duke  of  Buccleugh  secured  the  post  for  one  Mr.  Mark 
Pringle.  The  "  friendly  aid "  had  taken  the  shape  of 
warm  recommendation  to  General  Conway,  in  which 
Mr.  Boswell's  character  w^as  drawn  in  "  glowing  colours, 
Mr.  Burke  being  good  enough  to  add — We  must  do 
^ometliing  for  you,  for  our  own  sakes."  This  is  Boswell's 
ow^n  description,  written  in  the  too  candid  and  flattering 
"  memoir "  we  often  quoted  from.  Though  the  place 
was  not  obtained,  he  declared  "  he  valued  Mr.  Burke's 
letter  much  more." 

Not  less  unwearied  was  he  in  pursuing  another 
■ignis  fatuus.  "  It  was  generally  supposed,"  he  tells  us, 
in  his  little  memoirs,  "that  Mr.  Boswell  would  have  a 
seat  in  Parliament,"  and  he  made  many  attempts  to 
secure  this  "  object  of  his  inclination."  He  wrote 
j^amphlets,  he  curried  favour  with  patrons,  but  no  one 
seemed  to  treat  him  as  "  a  serious  politician."  "  My 
friend  Lord  Mountstuart  "  said  once  to  him,  " '  I  would 
do  anything  for  you  but  bring  you  into  Parliament  : 
for  I  could  not  be  sure  but  you  might  oppose  me  in 
something  the  next  day.'     His  Lordship  judged  ivell." 

He  was  more  fortunate,  however,  in  securing  the 
patronage  of  Sir  James  Lowther,  afterwards  Lord 
Lonsdale,  who  returned  no  less  than  seven  members,  but 
of  whom  he  had  spoken  but  coldly  in  his  "  Tour," — a 
curious  contrast  to  more  rapturous  apostrophes,  when,  later, 
he  Ijegan  to  have  hopes  from  him.  To  this  nobleman  he 
was  to  owe  the  Eecordership  of  Carlisle,  which  he  took 


282  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

as  an  earnest  of  better  things.  The  new  patron, 
selected  by  Boswell  for  "  bowing  his  intellectual  knee  "" 
to,  was  a  personage  of  extraordinary  wealth,  power,  and 
influence.  The  son  of  a  former  Governor  of  Barbadoes,. 
he  had  inherited  estates  in  Cumberland,  Westmoreland, 
and  Yorkshire,  with  rich  mines  and  other  property.  He 
had  thus  secured  enormous  parliamentary  influence,  and 
virtually  nominated  the  members  for  the  two  first-named 
counties.  He  had,  besides,  purchased  boroughs,  such  as 
Haslemere  in  Surrey,  and  Appleby,  where  he  had  the 
credit  of  introducing  Mr.  Pitt  to  Parliament.  With  these 
advantao^es  he  was  of  an  arroe^ant  and  even  nialio;nant 
disposition,  with  a  perfect  rage  for  legal  quarrels. 
It  was  said  of  him,  that  "  a  determination  to  oppress, 
by  means  of  wealth  and  under  colour  of  law,  all  who 
were  obnoxious  to  him,  has  been  frequently  imputed  to 
Lord  Lonsdale  :  and  the  records  of  the  Courts,  the  Book 
of  reports,  and  the  accounts  of  the  assizes  in  diff"erent 
Counties  have  appeared  for  a  loug  series  of  years  to 
aflbrd  some  basis  for  the  imputation."  Having  obtained 
from  the  Crown  a  grant  of  a  certain  estate,  held  by  the 
Duke  of  Portland,  he  prosecuted  his  claims  with  a  sort 
of  ferocity,  levying  ejectments  and  putting  every  engine 
of  the  law  in  force.  This  made  him  highly  unpopular, 
and  was  the  cause  of  his  losino;  his  seats  in  Cumberland, 
which  he  often  attempted  to  recover  by  extraordinary 
efforts.  It  was  said  that  a  vicar  of  Laleham  having 
ofi'ended  him,  he  took  the  course  of  leaving  his  own 
mansion  at  that  place  unoccupied  for  years,  in  order 
that  the  vicar  should  not  receive  any  tithes.  At  one 
time  he  was  bitterly  assailed  by  Peter  Pindar,  against 
Avhom  he  brought  an  action  for  libel,  and  it  caused  much 
astonishment  that,  on  apology  being  made,  he  accepted 
it.     He   fought    several    duels,    in    one    of    which    his 


POLITICS — DEATH   OF  DP,.   JOHNSON.  283 

adversary  fired  into  his  own  foot.  This  extraordinary 
person  had,  of  course,  immense  influence  with  the 
ministry  and  the  Parliament.  From  being  Sir  James 
Lowther  he  became  Lord  Lonsdale  in  1784,  and,  later, 
liOrd  Lowther,  Such  -was  the  patron  whom  Boswell 
was  now  extollino^  to  the  skies,  and  on  whom  he  had 
now  fixed  his  hopes,  but  who  was  to  bring  him  nothing 
luit  anxiety  and  disappointment. 

On  his  appointment,  the  new^  Recorder  was  much 
ridiculed — 

"  Boswell  once  flamed  with  patriotic  zeal, 

His  bow  was  ever  bent ; 
Now  he  no  public  wrong-  can  feel 

Till  Lowther  nods  assent. 
To  seize  the  throne  which  faction  tries, 

And  would  the  prince  command, 
The  Tory  Boswell  coolly  cries, 

'My  King's  in  Westmoreland.'  "  * 

His  friend  Dr.  Douglas  becoming  Bishop  of  Carlisle 
almost  at  the  same  time,  the  elated  Bosw^ell  wrote  that 
"these  two  promotions  gave  occasion  to  the  following 
epigram  " — of  course  his  own,  and  duly  published  : — 

"  Of  old,  ere  wise  concord  united  this  isle, 
Our  neighbours  of  Scotland  were  foes  at  Carlisle  ; 
But  now  what  a  change  have  we  here  on  this  border. 
When  Douglas  is  Bishop,  and  Boswell  Eecorder.'' 

Another  influential  person  on  whose  ''protection" 
Boswell  Avas  counting  was  the  powerful  Dundas.  He 
proved,  like  his  other  patron,  but  a  reed.  Unluckily, 
his  brother  David  was  also  pressing  his  claims  on  the 
minister,  who  had  promised  the  late  Lord  Auchiuleck 
to  confer  some  othce  on  him.  This  promise  he  renew^ed 
to  Boswell  himself,  assurino-  him  that  "  he  looked  on  it 
as  a  death-bed  one."  Yet  David  was  kept  waiting 
eight   years,  and   was    still   waiting.     Boswell  gives  a 

*  Quoted  in  Dr.  Rogers'  "  Memoir." 


284  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

piteous  sketcli  of  liis  own  treatment  by  this  rough 
being,  who  was  no  doubt  wearied  by  the  importunities  of 
the  brothers.  "  He  is  right  in  persevering,  so  as  to  leave 
Dundas  no  excuse  for  not  keeping  his  word.  As  to  my- 
•self,  Dundas,  though  he pledf/ed  himself  (as  the  modern 
phrase  is)  to  assist  me  in  advanciDg  in  promotion  ;  yet, 
except  when  I  in  a  manner  compelled  him  to  dine  ivitli 
me  last  ivinter,  has  entirely  avoided  me,  and  I  strongly 
suspect  has  given  Pitt  a  prejudice  against  me.  The 
excellent  Langton  says  it  is  disgraceful ;  it  is  utter  folly 
in  Pitt  not  to  reward  and  attach  to  his  Administration 
ii  man  of  my  po^oular  and  pleasant  talents,  whose  merit 
he  has  acknowledoed  in  a  letter  under  his  own  hand. 
He  did  not  answer  several  letters,  which  I  wrote  at 
intervals,  requesting  to  wait  upon  him  ;  I  lately  wrote 
to  him  that  such  behaviour  to  me  was  certainly  not 
generous.  '  I  think  it  is  not  just,  and  (forgive  the 
freedom)  I  doubt  if  it  be  wise.  If  I  do  not  hear  from 
you  in  ten  days,  I  shall  conclude  that  you  are  resolved 
to  have  no  farther  communication  with  me  ;  for  I  assure 
you,  sir,  I  am  extremely  unwilling  to  give  you,  or 
indeed  myself,  unnecessary  trouble.'  About  two  months 
have  elapsed,  and  he  has  made  no  sign.  How  can  I 
still  delude  myself  with  dreams  of  rising  in  the  great 
sphere  of  life  ?  I  will  tell  you  ;  Lord  Lonsdale,  wdio, 
when  he  pleases,  has  great  power  in  every  Adminis- 
tration, shows  me  more  and  more  regard ;  and  Sir 
Michael  Le  Fleming,  Governor  Penn,  and  Colonel 
Lowther,  three  of  his  Members,  assure  me  that  he  will 
give  me  a  seat  in  Parliament  at  the  General  Election. 
I  do  not  reckon  upon  this,  but  the  peut-etre  is 
animatino;. 

"  I  cannot  help  thinking  with  you  that  Pitt  is  the 
ablest  and  most  useful  minister  of  any  of  those  wdiom 


POLITICS — DEATH   OF  DB.   JOHNSON.  285 

wc  know  ; ...  if  lie  lias  treated  me  unjustly  in  his  ste^Ya^(]- 
ship  for  the  public,  and  behaved  with  ungrateful 
insolence  to  my  patron,  who  first  introduced  him  into 
public  life,  may  I  not  warrantably  arraign  many 
articles,  and  great  ones  too,  in  his  conduct,  which  I 
can  attack  with  forcible  energy  ?  At  present  I  keep 
myself  quiet,  and  wait  till  we  see  how  things  will  turn 
out.  My  candidateship  in  my  own  County  is  honour- 
able, though  I  am  between  two  great  parties,  either 
of  which  could  overwhelm  me,  but  perhaps  may  rather 
let  me  come  in,  by  bringing  me  in  apparently,  than  be 
defeated  by  its  opponent.  You  will  forgive  me  for  all 
this  egotism." 

There  was  another  "  patron  "  on  whom,  it  is  evident, 
Bos  well  was  casting  longing  eyes,  stimulated  by  the 
fact  that  his  friend  Temple  had  obtained  preferment 
from  the  same  quarter.  This  was  Lord  Lisburne,  who 
had  shown  him  some  polite  attentions.  Boswell  often 
recurred  to  this  nobleman  in  his  letters  wdtli  compli- 
ments, etc.,  and  was  eagerly  anxious  to  please  him. 

Mr.  Boswell  to  Loixl  Lishurnc. 

"Bickham,  neai'  Plymoutb,  Se2:)tember  21. 

"  My  Lord, — On  my  way  to  Cornwall,  to  visit  our 
worthy  friend  Temple,  I  intended,  according  to  your 
Lordship's  obliging  invitation,  to  have  payed  my  respects 
to  your  Lordship  and  Lady  Lisburne  at  Mamhead  ;  but 
I  found  myself  hurried,  and  deferred  it  till  my  return. 
My  two  eldest  daughters  are  with  me,  and,  if  not  in- 
convenient, will  do  ourselves  the  honour  to  dine  at 
Mamhead  on  Monday  next.  I  request  that  your  Lord- 
ship will  take  the  trouble  to  let  me  know  by  a  note, 
which  I  shall  inquire  for  at  the  post-house  at  Chudleigh. 
My  daughters  join  me  in  respectful  compliments. 


286  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BOSWELL. 

"  And  I  ever  am,  my  Lord,  your  Lordship's  most 
obedient,  humble  servant, 

"James  Boswell," 

To  the  Bi.slioj^  of  Ca7'lisle. 

"  Great  Portland  Street,  June  17. 

"My  dear  Lord, — Sir  Eichard  Symons  having 
asked  me  to  a  very  pleasant  dinner  party  to-morrow, 
I  shall  not  have  the  honour  of  making  my  bows  in 
Windsor  Castle  till  Sunday  morning.  My  son  shall 
obey  your  Lordship's  summons,  and  learn  from  his 
fiither  to  respect  John  Carliol,  as  Sir  Joseph  Bankes 
calls  your  Lordship — of  whom  I  ever  am,  with  all 
sincerity,  your  much  obliged  and  faithful  servant." 

Mr.  Boswell  was  now  heard  of  in  all  directions, 
making  speeches,  moving  addresses,  and  printing  pam- 
jDhlets  of  a  rather  incoherent  kind.  The  subject  of  an 
Indian  Bill,  proposed  by  the  "  Coalition"  in  1783,  and 
a  Bill  to  reduce  the  number  of  Scotch  judges,  had  no 
very  particular  connection  with  his  fortunes  or  prin- 
ciples ;  but  he  seized  on  these  topics  in  an  ardent  and 
even  hysterical  way,  and  his  friends  were  to  be  astonished 
and  amused  by  the  first  of  his  attempts  to  put  himself 
before  the  political  world,  which  took  the  shape  of  a 
letter  to  his  countrymen.  This  appeal  was,  in  parts,  a 
sober,  sensible,  and  well-reasoned  production  enough, 
directed  against  what  he  called  the  "baleful  coalition."  In 
a  few  places  only  does  the  true  Jioswellian  fm-etw  break 
out,  but  this  was  almost  as  irrepressible  in  his  case  as 
was  King  Charles's  head  in  that  of  Mr.  Dick.  It  was 
addressed  to  "the  people  of  Scotland  on  the  present 
state  of  the  nation,  and  was  published  at  his  own 
exj^ensc.     A  quotation  from  Goldsmith  introduced   it, 


POLITICS — DEATH   OF  DIl.   JOHNSON.  287 

of  wliicli  tlio  last  two  lines  were  particularly  ha2)py  iu 
their  application — 

'  Till  half  a  patriot,  half  a  coward  grown, 
I  fly  from  petty  Tyrants  to  the  throne.'  " 

After  lamenting  the  cold  indifference  of  liis  country- 
men during  the  exciting  question  of  the  Middlesex 
election,  and  of  the  American  War,  he,  at  the  opening, 
turned  aside  at  once  to  introduce  Mr,  Boswell  himself. 

"  I  was  one  of  the  few  who,  as  far  as  my  voice  could 
go,  ventured  to  oppose  it  (the  war)  as  unjust  and  in- 
expedient. My  intimacy  with  the  excellent  and  much- 
honoured  General  Oglethorpe,  who  still  lives  with  all 
his  faculties  and  all  his  benevolence  in  full  vigour,  con- 
firmed me  in  my  opinion  ;  and,  when  pleading  at  the  Bar 
of  the  IJouse  of  Commons  in  a  question  concerning  tax- 
ation, /  avowed  that  opinion,  declaring  that  the  man  in 
the  world  for  whom  I  have  the  highest  respect  (Dr. 
Johnson)  had  not  been  able  to  convince  me  that  taxation 
was  no  tyranny.  My  principles  being  of  a  Tory  cast — 
that  is  to  say,  those  of  a  steady  Eoyalist — it  grieved  me 
to  the  heart,  that  our  most  gracious  Sovereign  should  be 
advised  by  evil  counsellors  to  assent  to  severe  measure 
against  it." 

He  then  considered  the  scheme  proposed  by  the 
Coalition  for  seizing  on  the  Administration  and  places 
of  the  East  India  Company.  He  described  the  indecent 
haste  with  which  the  Bill  was  hurried  on  ;  "  the  rapidity 
of  its  course  and  its  ill-looking  appearance  indicated  its 
character  ;  "  and  when  it  came  into  the  House  of  Lords 
the  alarm  was,  ''Stop  thief!''  He  then  proceeded  to 
furnish  historical  precedents  for  the  king's  interference, 
defending  his  Majesty's  course  in  the  warmest  fashion. 
In  conclusion,  he  made  this  appeal :  "  The  purpose  of 
this  letter  is  to  recommend  to  the  people  of  Scotland  to 


288  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

address  liis  Majesty  upon  this  momentous  crisis,"  offer- 
ing bis  support  and  attachment.  "  For  my  own  part, 
I  should  claim  no  credit  did  I  not  flatter  myself  that 
I  practise  what  I  now  presume  to  recommend.  I  have 
mentioned  former  circumstances,  perhaps  with  too  much 
egotism,  to  show  that  I  am  no  time-server,  and,  at  this 
moment,  friends  to  whom  I  have  attached  my  aflection, 
gratitude,  and  interest  are  zealous  for  the  measure 
which  I  deem  so  alarming.  Let  me  add  that  a  dismissal 
of  the  Portland  ministry  will  probably  disappoint  an 
object  which  I  have  most  ardently  at  heart.  But,  hold- 
ing an  estate  transmitted  to  me  through  my  ancestors 
by  charters  from  a  series  of  kings,  the  importance  of  a 
Charter  and  the  prerogative  of  a  King  impresses  my 
mind  with  seriousness  and  with  duty." 

The  result  of  this  appeal,  which  received  the  cautious 
approbation  of  Johnson  and  private  friends,  was  related 
at  the  opening  of  a  far  more  obstreperous  and  jubilant 
pamphlet,  of  which  he  delivered  himself  a  year  or  so 
later.  He  then  had  "  the  happiness,"  he  said, — "to  find 
my  letter  received,  not  only  with  indulgence,  but  with 
a  generous  warmth  of  heart,  which  I  can  never  forget, 
and  to  the  latest  moment  of  my  life  shall  most  gratefully 
remember.  Tlie  fire  of  loyalty  was  kindled.  It  flew 
throug^h  our  counties  and  our  borouerhs.  The  Kinsr  was 
addressed ;  the  Constitution  was  saved.  I  was  proud 
thus  to  ciere  viros ;  prouder  still  than  of  receiving  the 
applause  of  the  minister  of  the  Crown,  which  he  was 
pleased  to  convey  to  me  in  a  very  handsome  letter, 
upon  which,  however,  I  set  a  high  value,  considering 
not  only  the  minister,  but  the  man  ;  and  accordingly  it 
shcdl  he  2')')^<2served  in  the  archives  of  ony  family."  *     He, 

*  Mr.  Pitt  was  then  fighting  a  desperate  battle  with  the  Oppo- 
sition, but  he  found  time  courteously  to  acknowledge  the  offering. 


POLITICS — DEATH  OF  DR.   JOHNSON.  289 

of  course,  forwarded  the  pamphlet  to  Johnson,  with 
apologies  for  taking  an  oj)posite  view  on  one  or  two 
points.  But  Johnson,  oppressed  with  asthma  and  a 
complication  of  disorders,  wrote  that  he  "  must  forgive 
a  man  struggling  with  disease  his  neglect  of  disputes, 
politics,  and  pamphlets."  It  was  amusing  now  to  find 
that  the  "  neglected  "  Mr.  Boswell  had  discovered  that 
the  principles  of  his  "  great  friends  "  were  not  such  as 
he  could  support. 

All  this  was  in  aid  of  that  ambitious  scheme  to 
which  these  ephemeral  eflbrts  were  to  minister,  that  of 
entering  Parliament  as  a  member  for  his  native  county 
— a  truly  Utopian  idea ;  for  nowhere  was  he  so  likely  to 
be  appreciated  at  his  true  value  as  in  his  own  district. 
That  want  of  a  "  better  bottom,"  in  spite  of  native 
joviality  and  good  humour,  would  be  a  fatal  obstacle. 
He  even  fancied  that  he  would  succeed  the  sittino; 
member,  Colonel  Montgomerie. 

In  the  March  of  1784,  the  risinsf  feeling^  of  Yorkshire 
in  favour  of  Mr.  Pitt  was  causing  much  anxiety  and 
even  consternation  to  the  Whig  party.  Mr.  Wilberforce 
was  afraid  that  he  would  not  be  able  to  promote  a  good 
county  meeting  ;  but  with  much  exertion  it  was  got  to- 
gether at  York  Castle,  on  March  25th.  He  proved  to  be 
the  hero  of  the  day,  and  Boswell,  who  was  there  visiting 

"  I  sent  it  to  Mr.  Pitt,"  the  author  tells  the  public,  "  with,  a  letter, 
in  which  I  thus  expressed  myself:  '  My  principles  may  appear  to 
you  too  monarchical :  but  I  know  and  am  persuaded,  they  are  not 
inconsistent  with  the  true  principles  of  liberty.  Be  this  as  it  may, 
you,  Sir,  are  now  the  Prime  Minister,  called  by  the  Sovereign  to 
maintain  the  right  of  the  Crown,  as  well  as  those  of  the  people, 
against  a  violent  faction.  As  such,  you  are  entitled  to  the  warmest 
support  of  every  good  subject  in  every  department.'  He  answered, 
'  I  am  extremely  obliged  to  yon  for  the  sentiments  you  do  me  the 
honour  to  express,  and  have  observed  with  great  pleasure  the 
zealous  and  able  support  given  to  the  Cause  of  the  Publick  in 
the  work  you  were  so  good  to  ti'ansmit  to  me.'  " 

VOL.  I.  u 


290  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

the  Bosvilles,  magnified  his  own  share  in  the  proceedings^ 
and  furnished  a  description  of  the  whole  to  Mr.  Dimdas. 
"  Boswell,"  wrote  the  latter  to  Wilberforce,  "  has  been 
with  me,  and  given  me  an  account  of  your  feats  at  York.' 
'^  I  saw,"  says  Boswell,  describing  the  scene,  "  what 
seemed  a  mere  shrimp  mount  upon  the  table,  but,  as 
I  listened,  he  grew  and  grew  until  the  shrimp  became 
a  whale." 

In  his  elation  he  wrote  to  Johnson,  to  tell  him  of  his 
"  high  gratification  in  the  triumphs  of  monarchical  prin- 
ciples in  that  great  county."  Instead  of  going  on  to 
meet  his  friend,  he  turned  back  to  his  own  country, 
where  he  carried  an  address  to  his  Majesty. 

Johnson  at  this  time  was  suff"ering  acutely,  but  was 
much  amused  by  these  proceedings ;  and  wrote  of  him 
good-naturedly,  though  rather  contemptuously :  "  The 
man  so  busy  about  addresses  is  neither  more  nor  less 
than  our  own  Boswell,  who  had  come  as  far  as  York 
towards  London,  but  turned  back  on  the  dissolution, 
and  is  said  now  to  stand  for  some  place.  Whether 
to  wish  him  success,  his  best  friends  hesitate."  As 
regards  this  candidature,  he  gave  him  some  very  signifi- 
cant counsels,  which  show  how  well  he  understood  his 
friend,  and  the  dangers  to  which  his  weakness  exposed 
him. 

"  You  are  entering  upon  a  transaction  which  requires 
much  prudence.  You  must  endeavour  to  oppose  with- 
out exasperating ;  to  practise  temporary  hostility,  with- 
out producing  enemies  for  life.  This  one  thing  I  must 
enjoin  you,  which  is  seldom  observed  in  the  conduct  of 
elections ; — /  must  entreat  you  to  he  scruj^ulous  in  the 
use  of  strong  liquors.  One  night's  drunkenness  may 
defeat  the  labours  of  forty  days  well  employed.  Be  firm, 
but  not  clamorous ;  be  active,  but  not  malicious ;  and 


POLITICS — DEATH   OF  DR.   JOHNSON.  291 

you  may  form  such  an  interest,  as  may  not  only  exalt 
yourself,  but  dignify  your  family." 

Having  learned  at  York,  or  on  liis  way  to  York,  that 
there  was  to  be  a  dissolution,  he  issued  an  address  to 
the  electors  of  his  county. 

"An  Address  to  the  Real  Freeholders  of  the  Count?/ 

of  Ayr. 

"Gentlemen, — If  my  friend  Colonel  Montgomerie 
shall  not  be  a  candidate  at  next  election,  I  intend  to 
offer  my  services  as  your  representative  in  Parliament. 
If  Colonel  Montgomerie  stands,  he  shall  have  my 
warmest  support;  for  I  have  never  ceased  to  think 
that  great  injustice  was  done  both  to  you  and  him  when 
he  was  deprived  of  the  seat  given  him  by  your  voice ; 
and  I  am  very  desirous  to  have  ample  reparation  made 
for  that  injustice.  Indeed,  gentlemen,  you  have  at  the 
two  last  elections  been  disappointed  of  your  representa- 
tion by  the  unconstitutional  means  of  those  votes,  which, 
upon  a  notice  that  I  glory  in  having  made,  w^ere,  at  a 
meeting  of  this  county,  29th  October,  1782,  declared  to 
be  nominal  and  fictitious. 

"  Colonel  Montgomerie  and  I  will  probably  at  no 
time  be  on  different  sides.  We  are  both  connected  with 
the  respectable  old  interest  of  the  county ;  and  I  trust 
we  should  both  be  exceedingly  sorry  to  hurt  it  by  a 
divisioD,  of  which  its  enemies  are  eagerly  watchful  to 
take  advantage. 

"  I  pledge  my  word  and  honour  that  if  there  is  not 
a  greater  number  of  the  real  freeholders  for  me  than  for 
any  other  candidate,  I  shall  retire  from  the  contest.  I 
disdain  to  avail  myself  of  what  I  condemn  ;  and  I  am 
not  callous  enough  to  bear  the  indignant  and  reproach- 
ful looks  of  my  worthy  neighbours,  who  would  consider 


292  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

that,  by  an  artful  use  of  the  letter  of  that  law  which  so 
loudly  calls  for  reformation,  I  had  triumphed  over  their 
wishes,  and  annihilated  tlieir  most  valuable  privileges. 

"  My  political  principles  I  have  avowed,  in  the  most 
direct  and  public  manner,  to  be  those  of  a  steady 
Eoyalist,  who  reveres  monarchy,  but  is  at  the  same  time 
animated  with  genuine  feelings  of  liberty ;  principles 
which,  when  well  understood,  are  not  in  any  degree 
inconsistent,  but  are  happily  united  in  the  true  British 
Constitution. 

"The  confidences  with  which  I  have  been  honoured 
by  many  of  you  in  my  profession  as  a  lawyer,  and  other 
marks  of  attention  which  you  have  been  pleased  to  show 
me,  embolden  me  to  believe  that  you  think  well  of  my 
integrity  and  abilities.  On  the  other  hand,  I  declare 
that  I  should  pay  the  utmost  deference  to  your  instruc- 
tions as  my  constituents ;  and  as  I  am  now  the  repre- 
sentative of  a  family  which  has  held  an  estate  in  the 
county,  and  maintained  a  respectable  character  for 
almost  three  centuries,  I  flatter  myself  that  I  shall  not 
be  reckoned  too  presumptuous  when  I  aspire  to  the  high 
distinction  of  being  your  representative  in  Parliament, 
and  that  you  will  not  disapprove  of  my  indulging  an 
ambition  that  this  family  shall  rather  advance  than  fall 
off  in  my  time. 

"  Though  I  should  not  be  successful  at  the  next,  or 
at  any  future  election,  I  am  so  fortunate  as  to  have  re- 
sources enough  to  prevent  me  from  being  discontented 
or  fretful  on  that  account ;  and  I  shall  ever  be,  witli 
cordial  regard.  Gentlemen,  your  very  faithful,  and  most 
obedient,  humble  servant,  James  Boswell. 

"  Auchinleck,  March  17,  1784." 

But  on  reaching  Auchinleck  he  found  the  Colonel, 


POLITICS — DEATH   OF  DR.   JOHNSON.  293 

■who  lie  hoped  would  have  retired,  was  seeking  re- 
election. Finding  that  he  had  no  chance,  he  set  oft" 
for  London. 

On  his  way  to  town  he  was  received  with  hospitality 
at  Carlisle,  by  Dr.  Percy,  then  Bishop  of  Dromore,  a  kind- 
ness which  he  was  to  return  by  strange  lack  of  courtesy  in 
his  great  work.  When  he  reached  Edinburgh  he  wrote  to 
him,  on  March  Gth,  and,  after  thanking  the  bishop)  for  his 
*'  very  kind  hospitality  at  Carlisle,"  he  enters  on  what 
his  mind  was  then  full  of,  the  political  state  and  pros- 
pects of  the  country.  "The  state  of  the  nation  has  for 
some  time  been  such  that  in  my  opinion  every  good 
subject  is  called  upon  to  defend  the  constitution  by 
supporting  the  crown.  I  enclose  a  pamphlet  which  I 
have  published  on  the  subject,  and  which  I  am  truly 
happy  to  find  has  had  considerable  influence.  I  rejoice 
that  the  Irish  appear  to  be  so  loyal.  If  your  lordship 
thinks  that  my  pamphlet  will  promote  the  laudable 
spirit,  and  any  of  the  Dublin  publishers  choose  to  run 
the  risk  of  reprinting  it,  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  of  its 
success." 

He  then  passes  to  the  subject  of  Dr.  Johnson,  whom 
he  intended  to  wait  on  "at  the  end  of  the  month  wdth 
respectful  attention.  I  wish  to  publish  as  a  regale  to 
him,  a  neat  little  volume,  '  The  Praises  of  Dr.  Johnson 
by  contemporary  writers.'  It  will  be  about  the  size  of 
Selden's  '  Table  Talk,'  of  which  your  lordship  made 
me  a  present,  with  an  inscription  on  the  blank  leaf  in 
print  which  does  me  honour.  It  is  placed  in  the  library 
iit  Auchinleck.  Will  your  lordship  take  the  trouble  to 
send  me  a  note  of  the  writers  you  recollect  who  have 
praised  our  much  respected  friend.  My  address  when 
in  London  is  at  General  Paoli's,  in  Portman  Square." 
The  bishop,  however,  took  no  notice  of  this  letter,  and, 


294  LIFE   OF  JAMES  BO  SWELL. 

four   months    later,    Boswell   wrote   to   know    had   he 
received  it. 

"  I  am  now,  as  your  lordship  once  observed  to  me, 
your  neighbour.  For  while  here,  at  the  romantic  seat 
of  my  ancestors,  I  am  at  no  great  distance  from  Ireland. 
I  hope  we  shall  visit  as  neighbours."  In  another  letter 
he  dwells  on  the  same  prospect :  "  What  a  dreary  thing 
(I  cannot  help  feeling  it)  is  it  to  have  one's  friends 
removed  to  a  distant  country.  When  I  recollect  the 
many  pleasing  hours  which  I  have  spent  with  Dr.  Percy 
in  London,  and  the  few  at  Alnwick,  and  the  few  at 
Edinburgh,  and  a  good  many  at  Carlisle,  how  much  do 
I  wish  we  were  well  established  in  England.  I  am 
resolved,  however,  some  time  or  other,  to  see  Ireland  all 
over,  and  with  what  glee  shall  we  talk  old  stories  at 
Dromore."  It  would  be  hard  to  resist  this  affectionate 
warmth. 


END    OF   VOL.  I. 


PRINTED    BY   WILLIAM    CLOWES    AND   SONS,    LIMITED,    LONDON    AND    BECCLES. 


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B-iJii  FEB  1  0  2000 
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JAN  2  7  2000 


